Lucas Herrington could make his Premier League debut for Hull City against Manchester United this weekend, while Nestory Irankunda and Patrick Beach are in line for debuts for European top-flight clubs Sporting CP and Troyes respectively.
Elsewhere, Riley McGree will look to build on an eye-catching return to action with Middlesbrough, while a number of CommBank Socceroos begin new league campaigns across Europe.
In Focus
Herrington in line for Premier League bow
It has been a whirlwind rise for Lucas Herrington over the last few months. Now, he is set to make his mark on the Premier League, as newly promoted Hull City begin their campaign against Manchester United.
The 18-year-old completed a record-breaking move to the Tigers last week on the back of impressive performances at the FIFA World Cup 2026™, belying his status as Australia’s youngest-ever starter at a World Cup.
He has already made his first appearance for his new club, featuring for the final 30 minutes of their pre-season draw with Nice.
For a player who only made his CommBank Socceroos debut earlier this year, it would mark another significant step in a remarkable rise.
Fixture: Hull City v Manchester United – Saturday 22 August, 9.30pm AEST
New chapter begins for Irankunda
Nestory Irankunda could make his Sporting CP debut when the Portuguese champions host Alverca on Sunday morning.
The 20-year-old completed a five-year move from EFL Championship side Watford last week after a strong first season in England and an impressive FIFA World Cup™ campaign with the Socceroos.
Irankunda arrives at a club with domestic title ambitions and UEFA Champions League football on the horizon, providing another significant test in the young attacker’s development.
Sporting have begun the Primeira Liga season unbeaten and welcome Alverca to the Estádio José Alvalade in their third league fixture of the campaign.
Fixture: Sporting CP v Alverca – Sunday 23 August, 5.30am AEST
Beach set to appear for Troyes
Patrick Beach is set to appear in goals for ES Troyes as they begin their Ligue 1 campaign against Paris FC this weekend.
The 22-year-old secured the move in July after a breakout FIFA World Cup 2026™ campaign in which he starred between the sticks for the Socceroos, making an incredible eight saves in the team's victory against Turkiye.
Beach has been prominent in pre-season, including starting in Troyes' most recent friendly against Greek club Panetolikos, and is set to be a big part of the newly promoted French side’s campaign.
Fixture: ES Troyes v Paris FC – Sunday 23 August, 4.45am AEST
Also on the radar
Riley McGree may have missed Australia’s World Cup campaign due to a hamstring tear but had an immediate impact at club level upon his return, providing an assist last week. The midfielder will be hoping to continue his encouraging return from injury when Middlesbrough travel to Blackburn Rovers.
Fixture: Blackburn Rovers v Middlesbrough – Sunday 23 August, 12.00am AEST
Cristian Volpato will look to carry his early-season form into Serie A after scoring in Sassuolo’s 3-0 Coppa Italia win over Cesena. Sassuolo begin their league campaign with a challenging trip to Atalanta.
Fixture: Atalanta v Sassuolo – Sunday 23 August, 2.30am AEST
Alessandro Circati has completed a move to Benfica midweek, joining Nestory Irankunda in Portugal. He was left out of the matchday squad as As Águias defeated AGF 3-1 in the first leg of the Europa League playoff but will have his chance to debut in the second leg.
Nishan Velupillay has been signed by German side FC Ingolstadt 04, that deal also concluding this week. The former Melbourne Victory man will have a chance to debut next weekend.
Tete Yengi will be hoping to continue his red-hot start to the J1 League season for Machida Zelvia. The CommBank Socceroos forward has bagged two in two for the Japanese side, who have kicked off their campaign with convincing 5-1 and 4-0 wins over FC Tokyo and JEF United Chiba respectively.
Fixture: Machida Zelvia v Urawa Reds – Sunday 23 August, 8.30pm AEST
Elsewhere in action
Mathew Ryan (Levante; La Liga) – v Osasuna, Tuesday 25 August, 3.30am AEST
Paul Okon-Engstler (1. FC Köln; Bundesliga) – v Wurzburger Kickers in the DFB-Pokal, Tuesday 25 August, 2.00am AEST
Mohamed Toure (Norwich City; EFL Championship) – v Milwall, Saturday 22 August, 9.30pm AEST
Joe Gauci (Lincoln City, EFL Championship) – v Portsmouth, Saturday 22 August, 9.30pm AEST
Alex Robertson (Cardiff City, EFL Championship) – v Derby County, Sunday 23 August, 12.00am AEST
Hayden Matthews (Portsmouth, EFL Championship) – v Lincoln City, Saturday 22 August, 9.30pm AEST
Harry Souttar (Leicester City; EFL League 1) – Burton Albion, Sunday 23 August, 12.00am AEST
Connor Metcalfe (FC St. Pauli; 2. Bundesliga) – v Rot-Weiss Essen in the DFB-Pokal, Monday 24 August, 2.00am AEST
Kai Trewin (New York City FC; MLS) – v New England, Monday 24 August, 6.30am AEST
Aiden O’Neill (New York City FC; MLS) - v New England, Monday 24 August, 6.30am AEST
Patrick Yazbek (Nashville SC, MLS) – v Columbus, Sunday 23 August, 10.30am AEST
Kye Rowles (D.C United, MLS) – v Charlotte, Sunday 23 August, 9.30am AEST
Jackson Irvine (Cerezo Osaka; J1 League) – v Shimizu S-Pulse, Saturday 22 August, 8.00pm AEST
Jason Geria (Albirex Niigata; J2 League) – v Fujieda MYFC, Saturday 22 August, 8.00pm AEST
Paul Izzo (Randers; Danish Superliga) – v Midtylland, Sunday 23 August, 10.00pm AEST
Ryan Teague (KV Mechelen, Belgian Pro League) – Charleroi v KV Mechelen, Sunday 23 August, 2.15am AEST
Nicholas D’Agostino (Viking FK, Eliteserien) – v Dinamo Zagreb in the UEFA Champions League play-off, Thursday 27 August, 5.00am AEST
Gianni Stensness (Viking FK, Eliteserien) - v Dinamo Zagreb in the UEFA Champions League play-off, Thursday 27 August, 5.00am AEST
Ajdin Hrustic (Al Nasr; UAE Pro League) – v Al-Riyadh, Saturday 22 August, 2.00am AEST
Deni Juric (Wisla Plock, Ekstraklasa) – v GKS Katowice, Monday 24 August, 1.30am AEST
Fran Karačić (Hajduk Split, HNL) – Hajduk Split v Osijek, Monday 24 August, 5.00am AEST
Max Balard (NAC Breda, Eerste Divisie) – NAC Breda v Jong Ajax, Sunday 23 August, 12.30am AEST
Sam Silvera (MK Dons, EFL League One) – MK Dons v Huddersfield, Sunday 23 August, 12.00am AEST
Jordy Bos (Feyenoord, Eredivisie) – Injured
Lewis Miller (Blackburn, EFL Championship) – Injured
Cameron Burgess (Swansea City; EFL Championship) – Injured
Jacob Italiano (Grazer AK; Austrian Bundesliga) – Injured
Results
Martin Boyle (Hibernian, Scottish Premiership) – 26 minutes as a substitute in a 0-0 draw with Gent in the Europa Conference League Play-Off, Friday 21 August
Cammy Devlin (Rangers; Scottish Premiership) – 5 minutes and red card in 1-0 win over Jablonec in the Europa Conference League Play-Off, Friday 21 August