THE STARS OF 2018
12 months to reach greatness... MoS experts pick the men and women who could make this year their own
FOOTBALL
HARRY MAGUIRE FOR someone making a steep rise in their global reputation, the elegant Leicester defender might be on the cusp of something special. Sheffield United and Hull fans may have long known about Maguire but three England caps put him in the spotlight. A starting place at the World Cup could show his assured style to the world. And if top-class centre halves cost £75million, the £17m Leicester paid looks among the smartest money spent. One to watch Callum Hudson-Odoi PHIL FODEN and Rhian Brewster stood out in the Under-17 World Cup win but Chelsea’s No 10/winger only turned 17 last month and yet was integral to the win. Coming to a Premier League club on loan. ROB DRAPER
TENNIS
SERENA WILLIAMS TWENTY years and one baby since she first appeared at a Grand Slam, the 36-year-old American is still the colossus of the women’s game. Now she is expected to mount a defence of her women’s title at the Australian Open just four months after giving birth to her daughter, which could be her biggest triumph of all. The early signs from yesterday’s exhibition match against Jelena Ostapenko are that, with two more weeks’ preparation, it is not beyond the scope of this remarkable athlete. Her determination to overhaul Margaret Court’s 24 Grand Slam singles titles (she has 23) looks sure to be one of the main storylines of 2018. One to watch Cameron Norrie SON of a Scottish father and Welsh mother but brought up largely in New Zealand, the 22-year-old southpaw has yet to play a full season. When he graduated from American university as one of the best US college players seen in recent years he was quick to make an impact and is already knocking on the door of the top 100. Crafty and slightly unorthodox, Norrie has a lot of upside if you were buying him as a stock and should become that rarity — a GB male enjoying a solid career at the highest level. MIKE DICKSON
GOLF
JUSTIN ROSE A REMARKABLE run of 10 straight top-10 finishes to end 2017, including three victories, means Justin Rose will start the new year with plenty of momentum. The 37-yearold Englishman has always had the long game and the temperament, but now he’s winning on a regular basis as well after acquiring the priceless knack of holing putts when it matters down the stretch. While all eyes will be on Tiger and Rory as they return following injury lay-offs, Britain’s Olympic gold medallist looks well-placed for a banner year. One to watch Sam Horsfield IAN POULTER has been banging on for years about his young English protege — and the good news is that Poults is bang on the money. Now 21, H ors field not only survived the nerve-shredding experience of the European Tour qualifying school last month, he won it by eight clear strokes. Don’t be surprised if he marks his rookie season with a maiden tour victory. DEREK LAWRENSON
CRICKET
DAWID MALAN WHEN Malan began with 25 runs i n four i nnings against South Africa, most observers predicted yet another brief Test career for an England batsman. But he adjusted his technique — opening up his lefthanded stance — and scratched a pair of 60s against West Indies to earn an Ashes tour. In Perth, it all paid off: 140 and 54 — the highest aggregate in a WACA Test by an England batsman — and a bewildering sense that the selectors had been right all along. Malan should be part of the furniture when England win back the Ashes in 2019. One to watch Jofra Archer THE Barbados-born Archer of Sussex may not be qualified for England until 2022, but that won’t cause fans of fast-bowling all-rounders to lose interest. Last season only he and Kent veteran Darren Stevens did the county double of 500 runs and 50 wickets, and he recently caused a stir in Australia’s Twenty20 Big Bash League by producing a double-wicket maiden for Hobart Hurricanes. Look out for more damage in 2018. LAWRENCE BOOTH
FORMULA ONE
LEWIS HAMILTON CAN he continue his annexation of the record books? Another world championship would put Hamilton level with Juan Manuel Fangio on five titles and behind only Michael Schumacher’s monuments (91 wins, seven titles). Hamilton’s success will depend on whether he can maintain the same bright fire he brought to last season, when for the first time he struck a neat balance between off- track engagements and the business of track supremacy. The hope is that Red Bull and Ferrari provide cars in which Max Verstappen and Sebastian Vettel can make it a three-way race. One to watch Lando Norris THE 18- year- old McLaren test driver from Glastonbury will compete in Formula Two with the Carlin team. Already Formula Three European champion, British motorsport needs him to step up when Hamilton finally leaves. A good showing could open up an F1 race seat next year. JONATHAN McEVOY
ATHLETICS
MO FARAH THIS is the start of the next chapter, with Farah having hit the road and turned his back on the track. He has signed a lucrative deal to run at the London Marathon and British Athletics say he could yet run the distance at the Tokyo Olympics if he proves himself a cont ender. That is an intriguing prospect, as is his training link-up with Gary Lough following the severing of ties with controversial coach Alberto Salazar. One to watch CJ Ujah IF 2017 was Ujah’s breakthrough, then 2018 could be the year when he stakes his claim to fill the void left by Usain Bolt. The Brit has been exceptional in the past 12 months. He won five times on the Diamond League circuit to take the overall 100 metres crown and then he was part of the 4x100m relay team that took gold at the World Championships in London. He needs to prove he can thrive individually in the major events after failing to go beyond the semifinals of the 100m at the Rio Olympics and London. RIATH AL-SAMARRAI
OLYMPICS
ELISE CHRISTIE SHE received death threats after crashing and wiping out a South Korean athlete in the speed skating at Sochi 2014. Now she competes in South Korea as a three-time world champion — it is a story that really has all the ingredients. She heads to Pyeongchang as arguably Britain’s best bet for a gold medal and might well leave with more than one. One to watch Lloyd Wallace THE British aerial skier has not yet qualified and even if he does, he is not expected to win a medal. But his tale is extraordinary — in August he was in a coma after suffering a head injury in training and just four months later he was competing again, trying to secure qualification. If he makes it to Korea, it will be a stunning comeback. RIATH AL-SAMARRAI
BOXING
DANIEL DUBOIS NOTHING is guaranteed in sport but it is 99.9 per cent certain that Daniel Dubois will become Britain’s youngest heavyweight champion. There is no one to stop him. Not even the British Boxing Board of Control, who are ready to rescind a regulation which prohibits fighters under the age of 21 from contesting full British titles. Dubois, who turned 20 in September, has flattened his first six professional opponents. Only three have taken him as far as the second round and his paid career thus far amounts to a total of 14 minutes and 38 seconds inside the ring. One to watch Josh Taylor TAYLOR’S defeat of Ohara Davies put the Scottish welterweight on to the radar of the fight fraternity and in 2018 he will catch the eye of the wider public. The Commonwealth Games gold medallist has won his first 11 pro fights and is the most talented prospect in Britain. JEFF POWELL
RUGBY
BILLY VUNIPOLA On paper, England fared well without Billy Vunipola in 2017. The No 8 only started one Test — the 13-9 loss in Ireland — which proved to be England’s only defeat of the year. Do not be fooled by the statistic, however, because the Islander is central to Eddie Jones’ plans. Nathan Hughes and Sam Simmonds have filled in, but neither come close to Vunipola’s ball-carrying presence. His return from multiple injuries for the Six Nations cannot come soon enough. One to watch Gregor Townsend It has taken just six months for the rookie Test coach to be hailed as Scotland’s messiah. Having won four out of six Tests — including a 53-24 thrashing of Australia — the former No 10 now has the Six Nations i n his sights and has emerged as an early contender to lead the Lions in 2021. NIK SIMON