Six Bundesliga wonderkids to watch out for when German top-flight returns including Kai Havertz and Upamecano
NOT without a spot of controversy, the Bundesliga is back THIS WEEKEND.
There are just a few more days to wait until football makes its eagerly-anticipated return - albeit behind closed doors.
While France, Holland and Belgium cancelled their seasons, the rest are aiming to get back to work.
And Germany has beaten the Premier League, LaLiga and Serie A to the punch - with games getting back underway from Saturday.
With the nation starved of live sport, there's little doubt that all eyes will be on the Bundesliga this weekend.
With that in mind, we've taken a look at six wonderkids to keep an eye on - some of whom you may know, and some you probably won't...
KAI HAVERTZ
SO you'll surely know all about this one...
The Bayer Leverkusen youngster, 20, has been on the radar of some of Europe's top clubs, including Liverpool, Manchester United and Chelsea in recent months.
The attacking midfielder has seemingly been on the scene for years despite his young age and could be destined to finally make a mega-money move this summer.
Already a seven-cap Germany international, Havertz has scored ten goals in 37 games for club and country this season and will hope to finish the season equally strongly.
His dad meanwhile is a policeman, and he loves to chill out by playing the classical piano.
DAYOT UPAMECANO
OK, so this is another somewhat obvious one with seemingly every European giant chasing the French centre-back.
Dominant in the air and strong in the tackle, it's little wonder the likes of Arsenal are desperate to sign the RB Leipzig star - with the Gunners ready to trigger his £50million release clause.
Also capable of carrying the ball into the midfield, Upamecano mixes the best of the old style of defending with the best of the new.
Upamecano has made 29 appearances in all competitions for Leipzig so far this season to put himself on the cusp of a senior France call-up after 14 caps for the Under-21s.
JOSHUA ZIRKZEE
IN Robert Lewandowski, Bayern Munich have got arguably the best striker in the world - with young prospects such as Jann-Fiete Arp for back-up.
But with Lewandowski set to quit this summer and the club four points clear of Borussia Dortmund at the top of the Bundesliga standings, Zirkzee is a name you may see more of before the end of the season.
The Dutch youngster, 18, has scored three times in just five Bundesliga games this season - while also featuring twice in the German Cup and once in the Champions League, against Tottenham.
Zirkzee has worked his way through Bayern's youth ranks since joining from Feyenoord in 2016 and has already featured 26 times for their B team.
WESTON McKENNIE
ALREADY USA captain at the age of 21, the world truly is McKennie's oyster, now making waves in the Bundesliga with Schalke.
The American burst on to the scene when he scored a 13-minute hat-trick against Cuba in an CONCACAF Nations League game - the fastest in USA history.
Despite his young age, McKennie has already played 64 times for Schalke, joining a talented group of North Americans to have played in the division, including Christian Pulisic, now at Chelsea, and Alphonso Davies.
A tenacious box-to-box midfielder, McKennie is certainly one to watch in the coming months.
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MARCUS THURAM
IF the name sounds familiar, it's because Marcus is the son of legendary French defender Lilian.
But unlike his old man, a once in a generation centre-back, Marcus is an attacking left winger-cum-striker.
Tall and strong, Thuram is tough to stop once he gets going and he's certainly not shy in taking on his defenders.
Thuram scored ten goals in just 33 games for Borussia Monchengladbach, replacing Thorgan Hazard who joined Dortmund last summer, before the lockdown was enforced.
Having joined from EA Guingamp in 2019, Thuram is already a five-cap France Under-21s international.
NOAH KATTERBACH
THERE are a dozen players we could have gone for in the sixth and final spot in our list, but we've picked out little-known Katterbach.
The left-back, 19, started turning heads with Cologne in October of this season and his solid form has already seen him sign a new contract.
Katterbach has played 13 times this season, only for injury to intervene just before the lockdown.
While still young, the German has plenty of time to shine in Cologne - but it won't be too long before the big clubs start knocking on his door.
...AND YOU ALREADY KNOW THIS LOT
JADON SANCHO - Borussia Dortmund and England superstar on the brink of a £100m move to Man Utd.
ALPHONSO DAVIES - Bayern Munich's Canadian left-back who shone in the Champions League thrashing of Chelsea.
ADEMOLA LOOKMAN - Former Everton man now at RB Leipzig and tipped for a Premier League return.
ACHRAF HAKIMI - Real Madrid star on loan at Dortmund tipped with a move to Chelsea.
RABBI MATONDO - Welsh international formerly on the books of Man City making waves in an exciting Schalke side.
