Alessandrini's explosive introduction

Romain Alessandrini is a new face for most Chinese Super League fans but the Frenchman's fame has been growing steadily thanks to his prolific early form for Qingdao Huanghai.

Alessandrini has netted four times in the newly promoted side's opening six games of the delayed season to sit joint-fourth in the CSL scoring chart, led by Guangzhou Evergrande's Wei Shihao (six).

Alessandrini's flying start has also helped gutsy Qingdao earn surprise draws against Group B big guns Shanghai SIPG and Beijing Guo'an, while his double, including a dramatic 86th-minute equalizer, in a 2-2 draw with Shijiazhuang Ever Bright saw him named MVP for the second round of games.