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World football is changing. Top European clubs, who were hesitant to play youth stars just a couple of years back, are now fielding more than 3 academy graduates in their starting eleven this season.
For teams like Chelsea, the transfer ban has come as a blessing in disguise which has resulted in the Blues recalling an army of loaned players to join the ranks of the senior team and fight for a spot in the starting eleven.
For teams like Manchester United and Arsenal, it has been more of a situation where senior players have failed to perform, leading to managers relying on the youth.
Not only have the Premier League youth adapted to the high standards, but many have also even become fan favourites and are one of the first names on the team-sheet every weekend.
This has led to managers being in a constant headache about team selection as they strive to master the man-management skills which the yesteryear managerial legends like Sir Alex Ferguson were known for.
Today we take a look at the top 3 academy graduates who have risen for their clubs in the Premier League.
#3 Bukayo Saka (Arsenal)
18-year-old winger Bukayo Saka is one of the young stars who has levelled up big time for Arsenal this season.
As the gaffer, Unai Emery dropped German international Mesut Ozil earlier this season over creative differences, and many of the offensive players were facing injuries, the Spanish manager had no option but to put his faith in Saka.
The young Englishman not only repaid his faith but also earned a lot of praises from the pundits and fans alike.
He has started four games for Arsenal in the Premier League and has an excellent successful passing rate of 76%. His on-field statistics in the Premier League do not justify the impact that Saka has had on the left-wing for the Londoners.
The midfielder has been influential in the Europa League this season where he has 1 goal and 1 assist in 2 games.
Saka definitely has a long career at Arsenal if he performs consistently over the course of the upcoming seasons.
#2 Mason Greenwood (Manchester United)
Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has time and again reiterated his plans for developing the academy stars into first-team regulars, and one of his recent prodigies has been Mason Greenwood.
The 18-year-old has already played 13 times for United this season and has 3 goals and 1 assist to his name in all competitions.
His impressive composed and calm nature on the right-wing has definitely put him in contention for a first-team spot in United's upcoming fixtures.
One of Greenwood's amazing attributes is his passing abilities and even the statistics suggest the same, as the forward has an 83% passing success rate in the Premier League and 89% in the Europa League.
For a teenager, these are respectable figures in such top competitions.
With Jesse Lingard severely lacking in terms of providing any sort of end product in the final third, it's about time that Solskjaer makes Greenwood a permanent name in the starting eleven.
#1 Mason Mount (Chelsea)
Probably the biggest success story of an academy graduate becoming a first-team star this season has to be Chelsea's Mason Mount.
A transfer ban and the appointment of Frank Lampard might have just aligned all the stars for Mount to get his first opportunity at Stamford Bridge, but he has shown in his performances that he deserves every bit of it.
The 20-year-old has started 12 out of Chelsea's 13 Premier League fixtures this season and has netted 4 goals while providing 1 assist for his teammates.
Compared to Saka and Greenwood, Mount might be considered more experienced due to his successful stint with Derby County last season, but it doesn't change the fact that he has been a revelation for his boyhood club in his debut season in the Premier League.
Touted by Lampard as his own reflection on the pitch for Chelsea, Mount recently netted his first international goal for England against Kosovo. Even if the 20-year-old achieves half of what his current coach has achieved for Chelsea, he would undoubtedly be considered one of the club's greatest players.
