On loan from Marseille, Isaak Touré has been performing with leadership and confidence that are well above average for a 20-year-old.

"Touré was born in 2003, like his teammate Matias Abline. We knew how good these players were when we signed them. Yes, they're young, but they're hungry to play and prove themselves because they weren't getting game-time with their parent clubs," Auxerre boss Christophe Pélissier told the Ligue 1 Show on beIN SPORTS. "First, they had to get up to scratch physically. Now we're reaping the benefits of their quality!"

Massive impact

With Touré in the starting line-up, Auxerre have conceded 15 goals in 15 games compared to 42 in 20 without him. That's in stark contrast from the beginning of the season when he played a bit-part role with OM, amassing just 65 minutes of game time across five appearances.

But the potential is undoubtedly there. Like Paul Pogba, Steve Mandanda and Riyad Marhez, Touré is a product of the world-famous Le Havre academy! His time at Marseille should come…

Even at Auxerre, a period of adaptation was needed. Touré was sent off on his first start for the Burgundy club!

But since then, lining up on the left side of a three-man back line, the giant defender has since let his talent do the talking.

On the front foot

As happy flying into tackles and winning headers as he is carrying the ball out from the back, Auxerre No.95 has all the trappings of a perfect modern centre-back.

"I allow him to charge forward because we play three at the back," explained Pélissier. "He's not your typical defender either, sometimes you can think that he's inviting danger by carrying the ball out so high up the pitch. But often, he's the one who starts the attacks for us."

Touré's confidence is growing by the week… as he showed by scoring with a brilliant shot against Clermont in Round 34. Now Auxerre's man-mountain is ready to pit himself against the might of Kylian Mbappé and Lionel Messi's PSG this weekend.