The 29-year-old has joined the Asian champions after a season-and-a-half with German second division side SV Hamburg, where he scored nine times in 29 games in the 2019/20 campaign.

Both club competitions will see a record number of clubs compete in 2021, with two additional groups – one each for the East and West Regions – included in this season’s AFC Champions League Group Stage, which has expanded from 32 to 40 clubs.

The winner will be revealed on Sunday, January 24, with 60 percent of the votes supplied by the direct participation of fans on the-AFC.com and 40 percent by a panel of Asian football experts.

Check out the nominees once again and don't forget, the result will be announced on Sunday. Thank you for voting.

Alaa Abbas and Hwang Ui-jo both found the back of the net, a pair of Iranian shot-stoppers produced clean sheet heroics and Lee Jae-sung beat the champions of Europe, while Ellie Carpenter and Saki Kumagai both starred in France.

Familiarise yourself with our shortlist – based on performances from January 13 to 19 – and don’t forget to cast your vote.

Over the past three weeks we have seen the goalkeeper and the back four decided with polling for the midfield maestros ongoing, it's time to turn our attention to the forwards and find out who you consider the top trio.

So, here are the nine players in contention for three places at the business end of the field. Review the candidates and then select your favourite for this all-star XI in the poll below.

The winner will be revealed on Sunday with 60 percent of the votes supplied by the direct participation of fans on the-AFC.com and 40 percent by a panel of Asian football experts.

Over the past two weeks we have seen the goalkeeper and the back four in front of him decided, so now it's time to turn our attention to the midfield and find out who you consider the top trio.

So, here are the 10 players in contention for three places in the centre of the park. Review the candidates and then select your favourite for this all-star XI in the poll below.