Charles De Ketelaere

(Club Brugge)

Following a stint last term as a Champions League novice (one start and three substitute appearances), the 19-year-old attacking midfielder will be expected to shoulder more responsibility in 2020-21. It shouldn’t be too much to ask of someone of De Ketelaere’s calibre. Although gangly in build, he plays with the soul and instincts of an artist, exemplary in his close control, able to thread a needle with a clever final ball and an audacious dribbler.

The youngster’s apparently physical frailty is, in fact, not a weakness at all. Aware that he will come off second-best in direct duels, he has worked out another way to prosper – taking advantage of his great first touch, heads-up awareness and ability to sneak unobtrusively into the red zone.

He’s had to get used to rave reviews. Ex-Belgium striker Marc Degryse reckons he will be a domestic Player of the Year in the not-so-distant future, while national team boss Roberto Martinez is already considering inducting him into the senior squad. So far, he has impressed for the Under-19s, with two goals in his last three appearances.

For now, his priority is breaking into Brugge’s first team. He started eight league matches in 2019-20, and was restricted to substitute appearances in each of their first four league games this season. Coach Philippe Clement is not short of youthful attacking options, with 18-year-old Youssouph Badji scoring twice in four games after arriving from Senegalese side Casa Sports. With De Ketelaere behind him, the Belgian champions have a teenaged attacking duo of significant potential.

Roberto Martinez is already considering inducting him into the Belgium squad