The Champions League returns to action next week with the round of 16. Strictly speaking, this means the 16 best sides in Europe are competing, although we know it doesn't always work out like that.

All the big European teams are there though - the likes of Barcelona, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich are permanent fixtures in the competition outside the group stage - so that means the usual batch of stellar names will be gracing both the pitches of Europe and our TV screens.

The undeniable talents of Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Paul Pogba are well known to anyone with even a passing interest in European football, but there are a number of little recognised names playing for sides less fashionable than the main continental giants who will hope to showcase their own talents on the biggest stage in club football.

Here we look at five players featuring in the last 16 that may not roll off the tongue as readily as the star names, but have more than enough about them to catch the eye next week and beyond.

Artem Dzyuba

Zenit St Petersburg cruised through the group stage, winning five of their six games and only losing the sixth during the final set of fixtures when they were already guaranteed qualification and top-spot.

Their comprehensive qualification was helped in no small part by striker Dzyuba, who is actually the tournaments third highest scoring player behind only Ronaldo and Robert Lewandowski, having scored six in six for the Russian Premier League side.

Standing at 6ft. 5" and boasting a strong physical presence, the 27-year old also has 10 goals in 20 domestic matches to add to his impressive Champions League haul, and should help Zenit bypass Benfica in the last 16 with his excellent heading ability and positional awareness. The bigger sides will need to beware of Dzyuba and Zenit come the quarter-finals.

Andriy Yarmolenko

The Ukrainian winger was recently rumoured to be wanted by Everton, and it's no surprise. The pacey winger can play on either flank, or even through the middle, and has an an excellent eye for goal to go alongside his technique and trickery.

Manchester City will have to be wary of the 26-year old when they face Dynamo Kiev, with the full-backs in particular in for a tough time trying to keep him quiet. He will be hopeful of adding to his CL goals tally against City's suspect defence.

Bas Dost

He may well win the coolest name award, but Wolfsburg striker Bas Dost is more than just a trendy moniker. A true old-fashioned penalty-box poacher, he rarely needs more than one touch to find the back of the net.

Signed from Heerenveen before the start of the 2012/13 season, he wasn't immediately successful, but has risen to become the main striker for the German side (although Nicklas Bendtner is his only real competition)

He only has one Champions League goal to his name this season, but seven in 16 in the Bundesliga is a fine return, particularly after losing his main supply man, Kevin De Bruyne, to Man City in the summer. Even in poor league form, Wolfsburg should see off Gent, so Dost is a favourite to find the back of the net against the Belgians.

Davy Propper

A decidedly less cool name than the previous Bas Dost, Propper of PSV Eindhoven is a solid talent. An ever-present for the Dutch side, both domestically and in Europe, the central midfielder helps dictate the game from the middle of the park.

With good passing and vision, Propper also possesses a mean shot, as evidenced by his winner against CSKA Moscow that saw the Dutch side into the last-16. PSV have a tricky two-legged tie against Atletico Madrid so will need all of the 24-year old's talent and experience to overcome Diego Simeone's side, Propper's goalscoring threat something to watch for.

Paulo Dybala

Perhaps the most high profile name on this list, the young Argentine is already making a name for himself in Serie A.

Given the home of his birth, and with his quick, creative play and magnificent dribbling skills, the 22-year old has naturally drawn comparisons to Messi, as well as attracting admiring glances from many of Europe's top sides.

Yet to really have the impact in the Champions League he has had for Juventus domestically this season (13 goals in 23 appearances), the 'Old Lady' will need all his pace and skill on display to make it past Pep Guardiola's Bayern Munich.