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Five African players to watch this weekend

Which of the continent's star men could be set for a big weekend across Europe's major leagues?

Mohamed Salah: Liverpool are in desperate need of a big result after going winless in their last four matches. The absence of Sadio Mane arguably cost them against Burnley last weekend, and someone else needs to step up as the Senegal international serves out the final match of his suspension against Leicester City on Saturday.

Salah found the net against Burnley last weekend - rescuing a point for the Reds - and also netted against Sevilla in the Champions League.

After being rested against the Foxes in midweek, he should be fresh to step back into the side this weekend and -- Reds fans will hope -- terrorise the Leicester backline.

Ryad Boudebouz: Injuries have prevented Boudebouz from starting the Liga season strongly after securing a high-profile move to Real Betis from Montpellier, and he's yet to start a league game with his new club.

However, he has played his part - off the bench - in the hope win over Deportivo La Coruna and then last weekend's shock triumph against Real Madrid, when he came on for the final half an hour.

It remains to be seen whether Quique Setien will change a winning team, but he'll surely be tempted to throw in the Algeria international, who demonstrated his flair and technical class with a magnificent 'roulette' to snake away from Casemiro in the match against Real.

Serge Aurier: One of the few positives for Tottenham Hotspur during their 1-1 draw with Swansea City last weekend was the performance of Aurier.

Introduced for Moussa Sissoko just after the hour mark, the Spurs new boy reinvigorated Tottenham's fading attack, and troubled Martin Olsson and Alfie Mawson with his powerful running and eye-carching acceleration.

Arguably, he ought to have had a penalty, and has the potential to be an instant hit with Lilywhites fans.

A big contribution in a London derby against West Ham United this weekend on his first Premier League start would be the ideal way to become a cult hero with the Spurs faithful.

M'Baye Niang: It's already been a memorable week for Niang, with the versatile wideman receiving his first call-up for the Senegal national side after previously representing France at youth level.

He struggled to make the grade at AC Milan, but the former wonderkid demonstrated his class - sporadically - on loan at Watford last term, and has made an encouraging start to life at Torino.

However, he's yet to find the net for his new club, and would surely love little more than to break his duck on Saturday in the Turin derby against heavyweight rivals Juventus.

Oumar Niasse: Few could have imagined that Niasse would one day score at Goodison Park after once being told by Ronald Koeman that if he wanted to play football, he needed to leave Everton.

Yet the Senegal international did exactly that in midweek when he stepped off the bench to find the net against Sunderland in the EFL Cup.

Niasse has been a flop since signing from Lokomotiv Moscow, but he demonstrated his eye for goal on loan at Hull City last term, even if his contribution wasn't enough to help the Tigers avoid the drop.

After a move to Crystal Palace fell through on deadline day, Niasse is back at Everton, and following the departure of Romelu Lukaku, they might just need him.

Could the West African be the man to help the Toffees halt their stuttering league form at home against Bournemouth on Saturday?

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