THE FA CUP third-round is always one of the biggest weekends in the football calendar as Premier League, EFL and non-league sides mix it up.
SunSport’s JUSTIN ALLEN takes a look at six players below the top-flight to look out for this weekend in the world’s oldest domestic cup competition.
Jobe Bellingham (left) will relish facing Premier League Newcastle on SaturdayRex
Gary StonePaul Appiah (right) stars for Maidstone, the lowest-ranked team left in the Cup[/caption]
Eastleigh’s 6ft 4in defender Ludwig Francillette is ready to face NewportRex
JOBE BELLINGHAM (Sunderland)
REAL MADRID and England star Jude Bellingham’s younger brother is enjoying his breakthrough season with the Black Cats.
And what a game for the 18-year-old midfielder to show his talents this weekend as the Black Cats face their bitter rivals Newcastle in Saturday’s big North East derby at the Stadium of Light.
PAUL APPIAH (Maidstone United)
ROOKIE defender will be turning out for the National League South club against Stevenage on Saturday on loan from Leicester.
The 21-year-old is highly rated and already appeared four times in the EFL Trophy for the Foxes Under-21s side but been sent to the Kent team to get more week-to-week action against senior players. Was superb for the Stones in their second-round win over Barrow.
LUDWIG FRANCILLETTE (Eastleigh)
The 6ft 4in ace, 24, is from Guadeloupe and came through the youth system at Newcastle and has two seasons under his belt at League Two club Crawley. Will be hoping to snub out Newport and 17-goal Will Evans this weekend.
JONNY WILLIAMS (Gillingham)
VASTLY-experienced midfield playmaker who until last year was a Wales international.
The 30-year-old former Crystal Palace, Charlton, Cardiff and Swindon ace has featured at two Euros (2016 and 2020) plus was selected for the World Cup squad in Qatar last winter despite being a League Two player!
DION CHARLES (Bolton)
STRIKER is on fire as the Trotters aim to win promotion this season from League One.
The 28-year-old has an impressive 17 goals already and will be hoping to add to that this weekend and take the scalp of Premier League strugglers Luton.
JOSH COBURN (Middlesbrough)
THE lively striker has just turned 21 and highly rated at the Riverside.
Coburn, back from a season on loan at Bristol Rovers, has scored twice in his last two games and should get a chance against Premier League Aston Villa — although both teams do have bigger fish to fry in their respective divisions.
Jonny Williams will use all his experience for Gillingham against Sheffield UnitedRex
Dion Charles will be Bolton’s main goal threat at Premier League LutonRex
GettyJosh Coburn has scored two in his last two for Middlesbrough[/caption]