Arsenal, Chelsea and United feature as England international stars in European U21 XI

The start of any new season always offers the chance for youngsters to stake their claim for regular action or in some cases build on impressive starts to their respective careers.

The 2019/20 campaign has certainly been no different, with a number of eye-catching performances from some of Europe’s brightest prospects as we run through the U21 team of the month for August.

Players must have made three or more appearances to feature and in the case of goalkeepers we have stretched the age allowance to 23 and under with so few qualifiers otherwise.

GK: Alexander Nubel (Schalke) - 7.04 rating

Having claimed Ralf Fahrmann’s place in the Schalke goal midway through last season, S04 had such faith in their young keeper that they allowed their former shot stopper to leave over the summer. Nubel certainly hasn’t disappointed thus far this season, keeping clean sheets against Gladbach and Hertha and producing ten saves from his three appearances last month.

DR: Aaron Wan-Bissaka (Manchester United) - 7.32 rating

It’s not been an entirely faultless start from Wan-Bissaka but United fans will have seen enough from their summer signing to suggest their right back jersey is finally in capable hands. The 21-year-old has already displayed his supreme tackling ability, completing a remarkable 26 in four appearances in August - which was six more than any other player in Europe’s top five leagues.

DC: Nordi Mukiele (RB Leipzig) - 7.58 rating

Having made the move from Montpellier last summer Mukiele started just 14 Bundesliga matches last season but got the nod in the opening two games of this campaign and justified his place in the side. The Frenchman leads the way in Germany’s top-flight for tackles after three games (12) and ranks third for interceptions (nine) too for the only side with nine points from nine in the division.

DC: Nico Schlotterbeck (Freiburg) - 7.14 rating

Having only been promoted to the first team in March Freiburg’s academy graduated has s(ch)lotted straight into the side’s back four this season and started more matches (three) than in the previous campaign. The 19-year-old has helped his side to victories over Mainz and Paderborn - keeping a clean sheet against the former - winning 11 aerial duels, five tackles and seven fouls, whilst committing just one himself.

DL: Pervis Estupinan (Osasuna) - 7.17 rating

Helping newly promoted Osasuna to an unbeaten start to the season in LaLiga, Estupinan played his part in clean sheets against Leganes and Eibar before earning a point against Barcelona. The 21-year-old Ecuadorian joined the club on a two-year loan from Watford over the summer and has impressed to now, completing ten tackles and eight interceptions in three matches.

DM: Matteo Guendouzi (Arsenal) - 7.27 rating

An ever present for Arsenal in the starting XI this season, Guendouzi’s fine form has been rewarded with a first senior international call up with France. Excluding his impressive performance against Tottenham in the North London Derby - coming in September - the 20-year-old made six tackles and seven interceptions in August and completed 162 of 180 passes (90 per cent).

MC: Mason Mount (Chelsea) - 7.55 rating

If there were any doubt as to whether Mason Mount could pose the same goalscoring threat from midfield as he had on loan at Vitesse and Derby for the Blues it hasn’t taking long to eradicate any such concerns. The youngster, like Guendouzi, has earned a senior international call up having scored against both Leicester and Norwich, fired off 14 shots in four appearances and weighed in with nine tackles to boot.

MC: Houssem Aouar (Lyon) - 7.67 rating

Having enjoyed a sensational breakthrough campaign with Lyon in 2017/18 last season, while productive, was arguably one of regression from Aouar. The playmaker has certainly looked to kick on this time around, however, and shone in a 6-0 annihilation of Angers, earning a perfect ten rating with a goal and two assists. The 21-year-old has completed 11 dribbles across four outings and made six tackles too.

FWR: Jadon Sancho (Borussia Dortmund) - 8.31 rating

Any concerns that Jadon Sancho’s first full season of top-flight football were some kind of one off re already being put to bed. The teenager has registered an assist in all three of his Bundesliga appearances this season - adding to the 14 he managed last - scored in victories over Augsburg and Koeln and has completed the joint most dribbles (11) in Germany’s top-flight, very much picking up where he left off.

FW: Victor Osimhen (Lille) - 7.70 rating

There was understandable concern at Lille that they would struggle to replace the goals of Nicolas Pepe but new signing Osimhen has already gone some way to alleviating those fears. The Nigerian has four goals to his name already having bagged braces in wins over Nantes and Saint-Etienne at home, scooping the man of the match award in both games, mustering 11 shots and winning ten aerial duels in three appearances over August.

FWL: Kylian Mbappe (PSG) - 7.57 rating

It seems a little odd that Mbappe still qualifies for such a side but having broken onto the stage at such an early age - still only 20 - he’ll qualify for some time yet! The France international hasn’t been at his scintillating best by any means yet but scored once and assisted another in a 3-0 win over Nimes on opening day and has had 14 shots and completed 11 dribbles in just 246 minutes of action.