AS Monaco youngsters press claims for Gornik Zabrze first leg | OneFootball

AS Monaco visit Gornik Zabrze on Thursday in the Europa Conference League play-off first leg, and a group of young players are pushing hard for inclusion.

According to L'Équipe, Paul Pogba is heading out and Ansu Fati, hindered by a calf problem, did not feature in any friendlies, leaving pre-season uneven and few nailed-on starters.

Anis Soubeir, 19, started the 0-2 defeat at Coventry on Friday and could earn minutes, with Mamadou Coulibaly and Alexandre Golovine suspended and Matthis Abline a doubt with a foot issue. A left-footer on the right, he is naturally a No 10.

Recruited despite limited under-19 minutes at Metz, Soubeir logged two assists this summer, including a superb Anfield corner in a 3-2 win over Liverpool for Paris Brunner to head in. Brunner, 20, led Monaco’s scoring with five of the 11 goals.

The German forward played only seven Ligue 1 matches last season but has looked more consistent recently, and could unsettle the pecking order alongside Oumar Konaté, 19. Safouane Benzahra, 18, a No 8 or deep playmaker found at NAC Breda, has adapted quickly.

Also in the frame are defender Samuel Nibombe, 19, and midfielder Aymen Assab, 18, who must still bulk up, while Pape Cabral, 19, is already in the midfield rotation. After the 1-0 win over Getafe on 6 August, Filipe Luis praised the youngsters’ quality and appetite to learn, and he could turn to some of them in Poland, kick-off 20:00 live on Ligue 1+.

Source: L'Équipe

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