Power rankings: Top 10 players in this Manchester derby

With Saturday's Manchester derby on the horizon, two squads stacked with marquee stars will face off in hopes of maintaining a blemish-free start to the Premier League campaign.

Manchester City's Sergio Aguero will miss out as he serves the first of a three-match ban for elbowing West Ham's Winston Reid in the kisser, while Manchester United summer signing Henrikh Mkhitaryan is a doubt because of a thigh injury picked up while on international duty with Armenia.

Taking into account the first month of the season, here's a look at the ten best players who will feature in the clash at Old Trafford:

1) Kevin De Bruyne

With Aguero out, Belgian international Kevin De Bruyne gets the nod for No. 1, and while the start of his campaign hasn't been to his standard, few players in Europe can unlock a defence like the crimson-lidded midfielder. Since his debut with City following a move from Wolfsburg, De Bruyne has provided 15 assists, five more than any other player at the club.

2) David De Gea

After finishing fifth last season with the second-worst goals scored in the top half (49), United was a side that depended on its stalwart backline more so than any other squad, and that defensive unit was only as good as David De Gea's heroics would allow. With a joint-best 35 goals conceded and 15 clean sheets that were second only to Arsenal's Petr Cech, the Spaniard's presence in Mourinho's squad is more paramount than any other.

3) David Silva

One of three City regulars to thrive under Pep Guardiola's tutelage, David Silva, alongside John Stones and Raheem Sterling, is enjoying a standout season in a new role. Playing slightly deeper than a No. 10 typically would, Silva has been willingly influential in build-up, with no example more glaring than the part he played in the Champions League drubbing of Steaua Bucharest. "I have to help in build-up play more often and sacrifice a bit more in defence, and overall I'm very happy since you can tell we've got off to a good start with Manchester City," Silva told Marca. Talented and self-aware, a cocktail for success.

4) Paul Pogba

Pity a spirited Southampton side and gaffer Claude Puel for the timing of their visit to Old Trafford two weeks ago. All eyes were on Paul Pogba, and the 23-year-old did not disappoint on his return, leading the hosts to a 2-0 victory with a dominant midfield performance that intensified as the match wore on. His nine successful take-ons against the Saints were more than any player during the second weekend of fixtures.

5) Zlatan Ibrahimovic

Anyone who doubted Zlatan Ibrahimovic's capacity for flipping an English match on its head didn't have to wait long to feel like a fool. Luckily, football is a merciful sport that carouses with the contrite. His brace against Southampton had Old Trafford in a giddy trance, and with three goals in three matches, the Swede is setting the tone for what United hopes is its 21st Premier League crown. Considering he's won the league in 12 of his last 13 seasons, it may be daft to bet against him for a second time.

6) Fernandinho

There's little glamour in Fernandinho's game, and with the likes of Aguero, De Bruyne, Silva, Nolito and an in-form Raheem Sterling in front of him, nor does there need to be. Look no further than his display at Stoke City, where his 83 completed passes were a Premier League best for the opening weekend. It paid off for Pep Guardiola, who put heaps of faith in the 31-year-old Brazilian to man the midfield alone with Silva and De Bruyne hugging the flanks.

7) Marcus Rashford

It's high time to bin the sample size argument as a metric for measuring Marcus Rashford's excellence, and rightly so. Rashford, 18, has scored for club and country at a dazzling pace, and on the heels of a treble against Norway in Under-21 Euro qualifiers, it's clear that the Red Devils academy' grad is the real deal. Eight goals in 15 matches with United domestically and on the continent should be enough for a spot on this list.

8) Eric Bailly

United's Player of the Month for August has hit the ground running, as Eric Bailly channels a skilled version of Nicolas Otamendi to strike fear into the hearts of Premier League attackers. Even with just three English top flight appearances, Bailly, 22, is the best defender in Saturday's clash, and also the most likely to force an opponent off with the help of a medic.

9) Anthony Martial

Forgotten among the quartet of this summer's big-name moves is last year's prized catch, but Anthony Martial is a quiet player with an explosive game who suits the role. Having started all three of United's fixtures, the 20-year-old has made the left wing his own, and after bagging his first France senior goal courtesy of a Pogba assist, it's scary to think what could become of an attack featuring any number of he, Ibrahimovic, Rashford, and Mkhitaryan.

10) John Stones

From languishing in Roberto Martinez's Everton squad that favoured the meandering attacker and not the centre-half, John Stones is finally with a club where he can exhibit his ball-playing skills in hopes of winning a maiden domestic trophy. If Chris Smalling was fully fit, he might be decent value to snatch this ranking from his Three Lions mate.