The Premier League will be on pause for the next couple of weeks as we head into the international break. The opening seven weeks have been played at an exhilarating pace and we have been treated to thoroughly entertaining individual, as well as, collective performances. Most of the big money signings have already begun repaying the faith that their respective teams have shown in them, with noteworthy performances.
While the Premier League is host to many world-class superstars, you can be forgiven for overlooking a few young gems that have shown great promise in the opening weeks of the League. Judging by their footballing ability, maturity, versatility and the impact they have on their side, we look at some of the Premier League’s budding talents.
#1 Michael Keane (Burnley) – 23 years old
Arguably the most prolific youngster in the Premier League this season, Keane has been a regular in the Burnley set-up since the start of last season. After a season in the Championship, the 23-year-old made the return to England’s top flight with The Clarets and has now established himself as one of England’s most promising young defenders.
The former Manchester United youth talent is a brute force in defence, while also providing an aerial threat during set-plays. He has played every minute for Burnley in the league this season and has also registered a goal.
Keane was recently called up to the England National squad and the defender will be hoping to add a first England cap to his name.
#2 Mason Holgate (Everton) – 19 years old
Holgate signed for Everton at the start of last season after a good campaign with boyhood club Barnsley in League One. The defender was watched by many of the top teams in England but it were the Toffees who grabbed the youngster’s signature.
After spending the previous campaign with Everton’s development squad, Holgate was drafted into the first-team under Ronald Koeman to cover up for injuries in defence and the 19-year-old gladly took his opportunity with both hands. He played every minute of his side’s opening three games and has also chipped in with an assist.
Holgate possesses the versatility to play either at full-back or at centre-back with ease, while also showing quality going forward. Not quite established as a regular in the first-team, Holgate is still a young talent who has displayed the qualities of a promising defender.
#3 Daniel Amartey (Leicester City) – 21 years old
Daniel Amartey joined Champions Leicester at the start of 2016 but failed to have any real impact on The Foxes’ title-winning season. He only managed a meagre 5 appearances last season but has already recorded an equal amount of appearances this season.
N’Golo Kante’s form last campaign kept the youngster out of the side and Leicester’s signing of Nampalys Mendy this season threatened to hold Amartey in the reserves once again. But the Ghanaian forced his way into the first-team, following an injury to Mendy and after good performances in the opening weeks, it looks like Claudio Ranieri now sees the 21-year-old as a regular in his team.
Amartey can even operate as a defender but holds a strong presence alongside Danny Drinkwater in the centre of Leicester’s midfield, keeping the likes of Mendy and Andy King on the sidelines.
#4 Ben Gibson (Middlesbrough) – 23 years old
A Boro lad through and through, Gibson progressed through the Middlesbrough youth ranks to register himself in the first-team since 2013. The 23-year-old is one of only three players in Aitor Karanka’s team to play in every minute in the league this season.
A vital cog in The Boro backline now, he has also represented his country in all youth formats since appearing for the England u-17’s in 2009 and is touted as a strong contender to be a future England national team player.
While he is able to play either at left-back or centre-back, he is arguably more effective when he plays in the heart of the defence. Appearing over 30 times in each of Middlesbrough’s last three campaigns, the defender also helped his side to the best defensive record in the Championship last season.
#5 Jordan Pickford (Sunderland) - 22 years old
Jordan Pickford joined The Black Cats at the age of eight and has since progressed through the ranks. Following loan spells with six different clubs, the goalkeeper broke into the Sunderland first-team squad and served as a back-up to Vito Mannone.
As Sunderland battled through to avoid relegation, Pickford was only able to make 3 appearances throughout the season. However, a long-term injury to Mannone has forced manager David Moyes to select the youngster on a more regular basis this season.
Despite missing Sunderland’s opening couple of games, the young stopper has managed to make the second highest number of saves in the league, averaging over five saves a match. As a young goalkeeper, Pickford has a promising career ahead of him and he will want to cement his spot as The Black Cats number one.
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