Western Sydney Wanderers come into their fixture against Leeds United at Bankwest Stadium on 20 July after a tough season of rebuilding, but emboldened by strong off-season recruitment which has left fans excited for their second season under Markus Babbel. Seasoned European professionals Pirmin Schwegler, Daniel Lopar and Radoslaw Majewski have been brought in by Babbel to address some gaping holes in the squad; signings which have positioned Western Sydney with a squad which many believe can carry on from the promise shown last season, to really challenge amongst the likes of powerhouses Perth Glory, Sydney FC and Melbourne Victory at the business end of the season. These signings, combined with the talented youth that Babbel brought through last season, mean that Western Sydney will have a strong squad on show for the crowd at the inaugural football match played at the newly rebuilt Bankwest Stadium. However, these are 3 players who the audience should really watch out for on July 20.

Pirmin Schwegler

The experienced Swiss international is a new arrival in Western Sydney, and will provide some steel and leadership to a youthful Wanderers midfield, having arrived from Hannover 96, where he ended his 13 year German career, where he played over 262 Bundesliga games. In addition to this, Schwegler made 14 appearances for the Swiss national team, no mean feat in the era of other Swiss central midfielders like Granit Xhaka, Valon Behrami and Gokhan Inler. He is tough tackling presence in midfield, averaging 6.6 interceptions, 1.9 clearances and 11.1 ball recoveries for Hannover 96 last season in the Bundesliga, an excellent return for a now 32 year old. He will presumably be fielded alongside 21-year old reigning Wanderers’ Player of the Season Keanu Baccus, a mouth watering prospect for Wanderers fans, especially given their defensive frailties last season, where they conceded 54 goals, the 3rd highest number in the league. Schwegler has been signed to prevent a repeat of this, and his pedigree and class will stand out in Western Sydney’s midfield.

Tass Mourdoukoutas

Mourdoukoutas is a young Australian centre back, who having broken into the first team and the Olyroos last season, will be looking to cement his place in the Wanderers’ starting eleven, and also secure his place in Graham Arnold’s U23 plans heading into the Olympic qualifiers. The 20-year old is a dominating presence at the back, using his tall frame to win balls in the air and to dominate attacking players. This ability to overpower forward players was demonstrated last season, seeing Mourdoukoutas average 6.2 interceptions, 2.11 aerials duels won, and 4.3 clearances, while still averaging an impressive pass accuracy of 88.2%. This speaks volumes of such a young player, who in spite of Babbel’s side’s aforementioned defensive frailties was able to secure a spot in the Wanderers’ backline, which looks to be his for years to come. It was these great performances, furthermore, which also has attracted reputed interest from Dutch and Belgian clubs, interest which will not go away if he continues to shine on the pitch. His ability to cope with top class players will be called into question when he faces Leeds at Bankwest Stadium, but if last season is anything to go by, he will continue to stand tall in the face of adversity.

Radoslaw Majewski

Majewski, having been signed from Pogon Szczecin in his native Poland, will be looked upon to replace Alexander Baumjohann after the German’s move to fierce rivals Sydney FC, and to inject attacking venom into the Wanderers’ attacking third. He is an experienced attacking midfielder, having represented Poland on 9 occasions, and having amassed 152 games in the English Championship, the league of his opponents on 20 July, Leeds United. He will provide attacking flair, as well as a goal threat from outside the area, a skill he became renowned for at former club Nottingham Forest. His attacking output last season is indicative of the direct attacking drive he will seek to provide for Western Sydney; averaging 2.6 completed dribbles, 2.5 touches in the box, as well as scoring 8 goals in a productive season for the Pole. Babbel will seek to have him link up with the Wanderers’ existing strikeforce of Mitchell Duke, Bruce Kamau and Kwame Yeboah, a proven A-League attack which could be damaging for the Wanderers’ opponents this season, and which could provide fireworks at Bankwest Stadium on July 20.