Top five contenders for PFA young player of the year

Oscar in action for Chelsea

With Gareth Bale now departed for the supposedly greener pastures of La Liga, the titles of both PFA player of the year and young player of the year are now up for grabs. While the contenders for the former are numerous and well known to all and sundry, the latter award, the less popular of the two, has some exciting future stars vying for it. With plenty of activity in the transfer market, there are more than a couple of new names who will fancy their chances, but no more so than some of the young talent already in the Premier League.

Here are five of the brightest prospects.

5. Oscar – Chelsea

Oscar in action for Chelsea

Having played a crucial role in Brazil’s Confederations Cup win, Oscar showed Chelsea fans exactly how effective he can be if assigned the right role. Jose Mourinho seems to have taken good note of it as well, with the midfielder starting all three league games for Chelsea thus far in the season, picking up one goal. He will be keen to keep his place in the national set-up amid acute competition, and regular starts could see him emerge as an established star in this defining year of his career.

4. Philippe Coutinho – Liverpool

Philippe Coutinho celebrates after scoring

Philippe Coutinho celebrates after scoring

Having made waves since his arrival from Inter midway through last season, Coutinho is almost certain to be among the top contenders for this award. Playing regularly right since his arrival at Anfield, Coutinho scored three goals and created another seven in a set-up largely devoid of scintillating wide players. This season, with more experience and familiarity in the bag, one definitely expects him to do even better. His combination play with Suarez, when played as a second striker, is something particularly delightful to look forward to.

3. Erik Lamela – Tottenham Hotspur

Erik Lamela: Could be a great signing for the Spurs

Erik Lamela: Could be a great signing for the Spurs

With 15 goals and 5 assists to his name in the Serie A last season, Erik Lamela was AS Roma’s undoubted standout player and rescuer-in-chief. Yet, when Tottenham came knocking at Roma’s door during their great exodus in the transfer window, the Italian club let go of their starlet for a paltry amount compared to other quotes flying around. Surprising enough as the decision was, what was even more so was the failure of clubs like Arsenal and Manchester United to compete for his signature. In the season to come, he will be eager to show all of them just how big a mistake it was.

2. Christian Benteke – Aston Villa

Christian Benteke of Aston Villa celebrates his goal

Christian Benteke of Aston Villa celebrates his goal

Last season’s runner-up for the award, Christian Benteke is a massive prospect for Belgium as well as club football. Having scored 23 goals in two competitions for a struggling Villa side last season, Benteke continues to be linked with a host of big clubs just as he was all summer. It is all well deserved too, as a good start to the season has seen him score three in three already, with the promise of more to come. It’s not just the goals that he prides his game on though, it is the overall presence and influence of a well-built forward who can hold up and control play at will. Lord Heskey would be proud.

1. Jack Wilshere – Arsenal

Jack Wilshere during the Barclays Premier League match between Fulham

Jack Wilshere during the Barclays Premier League match between Fulham

At just 21 years of age, Jack Wilshere is already a veteran of sorts in the Arsenal set up, as well as the England side. With Theo Walcott no longer eligible for this award and Oxlade-Chamberlain set to miss a good portion of the season with injury, Wilshere is the number one contender from the team known for its nurturing of talent.

With Cazorla and Ozil to combine with, an injury-free season could see the young Englishman hit giddy heights in a season that looks promising both at a personal as well as team level.What will be important though, is for him to improve on the 5 assists he provided last season, while trying to sneak in a few goals now and again.

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Edited by Staff Editor