The new season has not yet started in some European countries but a good number of Asia's finest are already in the thick of the action. Takes a quick look...
Kim Do-heon (South Korea and West Brom)
A Premier League debut at the Emirates Stadium? It doesn’t get much harder than that but the Korean midfielder demonstrated that he has the ability to not only compete in such company but excel. After the Baggies fell behind early on, Kim was full of energy, running and most impressively, skilful and intelligent play. One of West Brom’s best players on Saturday, if not the best. Kim has set a high standard for the rest of the season.
Shunsuke Nakamura (Japan and Celtic)
The playmaker returned from injury at Dundee United and was one of Celtic’s most impressive performers. He created Celtic’s goal which was expected to send the champions on their way. It didn’t quite work out that way. A tiring Nakamura was replaced midway through the second half and not long after, the hosts equalized to earn a point.
Shinji Ono (Japan and Bochum)
The midfielder would have been happy to start the season with a place in the starting eleven at Bochum but Ono was unable to impose himself in the battle for midfield supremacy and Karlsruhe fully deserved their 1-0 win. Not bad but not great for the 2002 Asian Player of the Year.
Lee Young-pyo (South Korea and Tottenham)
Lee was nowhere to be seen as Spurs collapsed to an opening day defeat at Middlesbrough.
Seol Ki-hyeon (South Korea and Fulham)
Hasn’t played a Premier League game since Janaury 19 and then scores before the new season is ten minutes old. That sums up Seol Ki-hyeon although Roy Hodgson will be hoping that the subsequent 2-1 defeat at Hull City is not a taste of things to come. Seol is a player who always starts well with a new season – the challenge is for the former Reading and Wolves star to be in the team and scoring in February. Still a good start for the sniper however.
Vahid Hashemian (Iran and Bochum)
A return to Bochum but no return to form in front of goal for the Helicopter. If the criticism about Hashemian’s performance in training from coach Marcel Koller was supposed to motivate the player for the opening game against Karlsruhe, it didn’t work as it was a flat performance all round as Karlsruhe won 1-0.
Daisuke Matsui (Japanese and St Etienne)
The midfielder spent most of the match against Sochaux on the bench but crossed the white line midway through the second half. At that time, his team were two goals to the good. Soon after his introduction, Sochaux pulled a goal back to ensure that the new signing had to spend much of his time defending. St Etienne hung on to win 2-1.
Sun Xiang (China and Austria Vienna)
The new left-back played the first 55 minutes as Austria Vienna defeated SV Salzburg 3-2. The club are now in third place after six matches of the new season.
Mehdi Mahdavikia (Iran and Eintracht Frankfurt)
Kia was an unused substitute and watched as Frankfurt slipped to a home defeat at the hands of Hertha Berlin.
Makoto Hasebe (Japan and Wolfsburg)
Not a great personal start to the season for the former Urawa Reds midfielder. After newly-promoted club FC Cologne took an early lead, Hasebe, who had a quiet time, was sacrificed at half-time. The decision paid off as the hosts came back to win 2-1 and get the season off to a winning start.
Junichi Inamoto (Japan and Eintracht Frankfurt)
The midfielder played an hour before being replaced. With a number of Frankfurt players missing through injury, Ina needs to seize the opportunity but, like most of his team-mate, failed to impress boss Friedhelm Funkel as Hertha Berlin won 2-0.
Andranik Teymourian (Iran and Fulham)
The Iranian midfielder had to watch from the bench as his new team let a lead slip at Hull City to lose 2-1.
Ali Al Habsi (Oman and Bolton)
A familiar story for the giant goalkeeper who was an unused substitute as Bolton defeated Stoke City 3-1.
Park Ji-sung (South Korea and Manchester United)
Park is returning to fitness after a knee injury. He could be back in action next weekend.
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