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Every season throws up a few youngsters who catch the eye and get the supporters excited as they are looked upon as the next big thing in world football. Jack Wilshere, Daniel Sturridge and Tom Cleverley are just some of the players who have had supporters salivating at the prospect of their development. Here are a few players who could appear for the first team this year and kick-start their progress:
1. Lucas Piazon ( Chelsea):
Piazon is a striker capable of playing in the wings or in the hole beyond the striker. He caught the eye as a youth for Sao Paulo in the Manchester United Premier Cup, scoring against United and then helping his team win the trophy against Werder Bremen. Piazon was then bought by Chelsea and immediately made his mark for the reserve and youth teams, since he was still ineligible to play for the first team. Scoring heavily, he was an integral part of the U18s which won the FA Youth Cup for the 2011-12 season. He was also named the Chelsea Young Player of the Year in the same season. He began this season, making his first team debut in Chelsea’s pre-season tour of USA against Seattle Sounders. After impressing in pre-season, Piazon looks primed to break into the strong Chelsea first team. Will Roberto Di Matteo give him that chance? Only time will tell.
2. Danny Wilson (Liverpool):
A versatile central defender who can also play at left back, Wilson came into prominence at Rangers, becoming the youngest ever Rangers player to play in the Champions League. He was voted Scottish Young Player of the Season both by the PFA and the FWA in his debut season. Wilson signed for Liverpool in 2010 and made his debut in the team’s disastrous defeat to Northampton Town in the League Cup. After playing regularly for the Reserves, Wilson spent time on loan with Blackpool towards the end of last season. Wilson has not been sent out on loan this season, and if the first choice defence is hit by injury, Wilson might get a look-in sometime during the season.
3. Ryan Tunnicliffe (Manchester United):
A graduate of the United academy, Tunnicliffe was an important part of the FA Youth Cup winning team in 2011. Primarily a midfielder who has also filled in at full back on occasion, Tunnicliffe’s development was aided by a loan spell to Darren Ferguson’s Peterborough. He made 26 appearances in the Championship and claimed an assist in his only appearance in the League Cup. A regular in the reserve team and with the ageing midfield at United, it is conceivable that Tunnicliffe might make a few appearances in the League Cup this season, as he strives to become the next big academy product after Tom Cleverley.
4. Thomas Eisfeld (Arsenal):
A product of the Borussia Dortmund academy which has produced the likes of Mario Gotze and Nuri Sahin, Eisfeld was apparently a long term target of Arsene Wenger when he joined Arsenal in the January window last season. A midfielder who can play on the wings or in an advanced midfield role, Eisfeld has a knack of popping up inside the box to score goals. He scored twice in three games in Arsenal’s pre-season tour to Asia and has also scored twice in three games in the U21 league against Bolton and Blackburn. With Wenger’s policy of blooding the youth in the League Cup games, it is almost certain that Eisfeld will feature for Arsenal in this competition in the coming months.
5. James Tavernier (Newcastle):
A product of Newcastle’s academy, Tavernier can play both at centre back and right back. He made his debut way back in 2009 and while he hasn’t had too many opportunities to break into the first team, Tavernier shone in loan spells at Gateshead, Carlisle United and Sheffield Wednesday. A fourth loan spell at MK Dons was cut short by injuries to the Newcastle first team defence and he was recalled to act as cover towards the end of last season. After signing a new contract this season, Tavernier made his bow in European competion by playing in both games of Newcastle’s Europa League group stage qualifying campaign against Atromitos. Some more League Cup and substitute appearances are on the cards for him this season as he attempts to break into Alan Pardew’s first team squad.
6. Denis Suarez (Macnhester City):
An attacking midfielder in the David Silva mould, Suarez is part of an exciting young generation at Manchester City also featuring Gai Assulin and Omar Elabdellaoui. Suarez was a catch for City after they had to fight off competition from Barcelona, Chelsea and United to sign him from Celta Vigo. Now a regular part of City’s Elite Development Squad, Suarez was voted Young Player of the Year last season. He made his first team debut in the League Cup last season against Wolves. While breaking into City’s expensively assembled first team midfield might be a little too far for him this season, a few substitute appearances in the League Cup against lesser opposition is definitely on the cards.
