Young players ready for Premier League breakthrough
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND » A look at five young players who could break through in the Premier League this season:
PHIL FODEN (Manchester City)
The leap from City’s academy to the star-filled first team has proved to be too big for most, but Foden appears good enough to make the transition. The diminutive 17-year-old midfielder impressed coach Pep Guardiola with his passing and technical qualities during City’s tour to the United States in July and is set to be part of the senior squad for the coming season. He has been at City since age 6, and was selected on the bench for the Champions League game against Celtic in December.
TRENT ALEXANDER-ARNOLD (Liverpool)
The 18-year-old right back made his senior debut for Liverpool in October and has only started two Premier League games. But such was the maturity he showed during his first-team opportunities — notably in a 1-1 draw at Manchester United in January — that regular starter Nathaniel Clyne could soon be under pressure for his place. Clyne is set to miss the start of the season through injury, so Alexander-Arnold has another chance to make a mark.
DOMINIC CALVERT-LEWIN (Everton)
The 20-year-old striker attracted attention in scoring the winning goal for England against Venezuela in the final of the under-20 World Cup in June, and is set for more games at Everton this season now Romelu Lukaku has joined Manchester United. Everton manager Ronaldo Koeman sees Calvert-Lewin as a striker rather than a wide attacker, with his pace offering a different threat to that offered by fellow forwards Wayne Rooney and Sandro Ramirez. He scored the winner in a Europa League qualifying match this month.
TAMMY ABRAHAM (Swansea)
The 20-year-old Chelsea striker is ready for the next stage of his career after scoring 26 goals on loan at Bristol City in the second tier last season. After signing a new five-year contract at Chelsea, the England under-21 international has headed out on loan again to Swansea to gain Premier League experience. Abraham will have a wise tutor in Fernando Llorente, if the Spaniard stays at Swansea, and another successful season could see him return to Stamford Bridge ready to challenge for a firstteam place.