The Premier League’s best young starting XI.
The Premier League is currently blessed with a dearth of excellent young talent. Whether it be because of the 6+5 rule, or FFP regulations kicking in, or just a continuation of the excellent work put in by youth academies across the country, a new wave of young talent are starting to make their voices heard at the top level. Below is just 11 of the best young stars to start making their way through the ranks to show what they can do to carry the Premier League into the future.
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GK: Jack Butland – Stoke City
Butland may not have made the headway into the Stoke team as quickly as he would have liked, but that’s mostly down to the excellent form of current number one Asmir Begovic. However, Butland is still highly-rated in the top flight, and luckily for him goalkeepers aren’t on the same time frame as their outfield counter parts so there is still plenty of time for him to establish himself.
LB: Luke Garbutt – Everton
Garbutt is the latest in a long line of great full-backs to emerge from Goodison Park lately. He made his debut last season and having spent time on loan in the lower reaches of the football league, Roberto Martinez may well decide to rely on the England under-21 regular a little more as he juggles competing in four competitions.
CB: Eric Dier – Tottenham Hotspur
The young Englishman has already enjoyed a fine football education in Portugal with Sporting Lisbon, and has seemingly fit into Tottenham’s back line already. Scoring twice in his first two games, if he can keep Kaboul and Chiriches rotating amongst themselves then a call up to the Senior England team won’t be far off.
CB: Paddy McNair – Manchester United
McNair isn’t the only rookie defender to be thrust into the spotlight at Old Trafford this season, but he’s been the best. His display against West Ham had him looking as though he’d been there for years. He likely would have been expecting to go out on loan, but if he can continue his good run of form then perhaps Louis Van Gaal will opt out of looking for an expensive replacement in January.
RB: Hector Bellerin – Arsenal
The Spaniard has been making waves in Arsenal’s development squad, and at Watford, where he spent a short and successful loan spell last year. He’s been edged in gradually through cup competitions, but his exciting talent will now be put to the test thanks to the club’ ever growing injury list.
CM: Nathaniel Chalobah – Chelsea (on loan at Burnley)
The versatile Chalobah is already a star in the Championship, where he made a name for himself with Watford and Nottingham Forest. However, he’s now back in the Premier League with Burnley, where a season having his back against the wall will mould him into a mature and experienced player for when he returns to Stamford Bridge next summer.
CM: Jordan Rossiter – Liverpool
The 17-year-old made his debut last month in the Capital One Cup and capped off an excellent performance with a wonderful goal against Middlesbrough. He captains the club’s youth side and will most likely be in line for more appearances over the course of the campaign to help lighten Liverpool’s restricted loan in the middle of the park.
LW: Jack Grealish – Aston Villa
Grealish is already causing a storm at Villa Park, so much so the club are scrambling to tie him down to a new deal to keep him from the clutches of Chelsea and Manchester United, who have been keeping an eye on him. Having spent the entire of last season with Notts County, his experiences of helping them avoid relegation has thrust him into the Villa squad this term, and he can expect to be more involved as the season goes on.
RW: James Ward-Prowse – Southampton
The England under-21 star will have more of a starting role this season following Southampton’s transition over the summer and his involvement will go a long way into continuing the fantastic work the club do with their young prospects.
AM: Raheem Sterling – Liverpool
Already an established starter for club and country, the Liverpool star is a legend in the making and has already displayed his versatility by moving from a wide position into the centre. Blessed with speed, power, and an eye for goal, the sky is the limit for this lad.
ST: Saido Berahino – West Bromwich Albion
Berahino can be as big as he wants to be. already making waves in the Midlands as West Brom’s top scorer, he will be relied on more as the campaign progresses, though whether he’ll be there in January is another matter…