Nigerians to watch this weekend

There are storylines aplenty regarding the nation’s stars featuring over the next few days.

Alex Iwobi received plaudits following last week’s performance against Leeds United, and he will strive for a repeat showing at Southampton.

Goals have been hard to come by for Emmanuel Dennis of late, but will anything change against off-form Aston Villa?

In Ligue 1, we knew Moses Simon could go past his man with ease but a stunning free-kick last week means Paris Saint-Germain will be wary of the Nantes wide attacker from dead-ball situations as well.

Having been strangely dropped for Crystal Palace’s game at Brentford last time out, Olise will hope to be recalled when Chelsea visit Selhurst Park on Saturday.

Patrick Vieira has preferred to utilise Jordan Ayew against the top-six sides, but the quality and productivity the 20-year-old provides could be key in unlocking a Blues side that are somewhat there for the taking.

The Eagles were beaten 3-0 at Stamford Bridge on the opening weekend of the season, but a lot has changed since and the South London side will back themselves to stun their inconsistent visitors.

Iwobi produced arguably his finest display in an Everton shirt against Leeds, prompting adulation from Frank Lampard and fans.

Indeed, it will count for little if there is a significant decline in performance when the Toffees face in-form Saints.

The attacking midfielder is set for a ninth start if he plays from the off and 15th appearance altogether if he gets minutes on the South Coast.

With no goals for Dennis in five straight games, Watford’s situation appears dire with instant relegation becoming a real danger.

While Ismaila Sarr is back to fitness, Roy Hodgson knows he needs his top marksman back to his best for the final months of the campaign.

The Hornets travel to Aston Villa hoping to capitalise on the Villans’ drop-off which has seen them win just one of their last five games.

They are winless in the league since beating Manchester United 4-1 in November, with their last away success coming in that storming 5-2 success over Everton on Merseyside.

The aforementioned statistics do not bode well for the Hertfordshire outfit, yet, travelling supporters will hope for some Dennis magic at Villa Park.

Aina has been an unused substitute in Torino’s defeats by Udinese and Cagliari, but the wide defender could return for this weekend’s Turin derby against Juventus.

He had started three of the Bull’s five Serie A fixtures before leaving for Africa Cup of Nations duty and could be reinstated against in-form Juventus who are unbeaten in the league since November.

Ivan Juric’s troops are winless in the last three (losing two), having claimed a trio of victories in their previous four, but defeating the Old Lady, while being a challenge they will relish, may be implausible owing to the antecedent greatly favouring the Bianconeri.

Torino’s only win in the last 31 derbies came in 2015 and the last time they prevented the giants from scoring was in February 2008.

Will Aina and his colleagues end a wretched run against their old rivals?

A stunning Simon free-kick in Nantes’ 1-0 success over Stade de Reims extended the Canaries’ fine form at Stade de la Beaujoire, where they have now claimed 10 points from the last possible 12.

However, they face a daunting prospect of facing Ligue 1 runaway leaders Paris Saint-Germain, who sit 13 points clear of Olympique Marseille in second.

Simon’s goal was his third strike of the season and the winger will strive to be decisive for Antoine Kombouare’s men who hope there will be some hangover from their Champions League exertions against Real Madrid in mid-week.