'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Over the past few seasons, fans of different clubs have been witness to a young, carefree player taking the league by storm and winning over the hearts of many diehard football viewers.
Whether it's the likes of Marcus Rashford - who many United fans feel can be the team's main man over the next few years - or Trent Alexander-Arnold - who was pushed into the team because of injury troubles, but whose performances were so good he never gave up his spot - the Premier League has been a breeding ground for exciting young talent.
Here are the top 5 young players (players 21 and under) to look out for this season.
Trending
#5 Callum Hudson-Odoi
The 17-year-old was used frequently during the pre-season tour as many of Sarri's first team starters were on holiday following the World Cup. It would be have been hard to see Hudson-Odoi break into the team this year with the likes of Eden Hazard, Willian and Pedro ahead of him, but when presented the opportunity in pre-season, the youngster pounced on it.
What Sarri saw clearly pleased him, showing his faith in the young man by giving him a start against Man City in the Community Shield. Yes, Chelsea were outplayed in that match, but Hudson-Odoi was Chelsea's brightest spark for long parts of that game.
He gave Hector Bellerin the runaround on numerous occasions in the pre-season game against Arsenal and showed his confidence with his direct running.
Hudson-Odoi is a bag of tricks, and a pacy player, who has the potential to terrorize opponents the same way Hazard often does. He might not get much playing time in the Premier League this season bar any serious injuries to first-team players, but he will feature in the domestic cups.
Good performances there could see him push for a place on the bench at the very least. With Ruben Loftus-Cheek looking likely that he will leave this season, Hudson-Odoi will be the perfect understudy for Hazard and Pedro.
#4 James Maddison
If you've watched Leicester at all this season, it's likely you would have noticed two things: the silky legs of Mahrez are no longer present on the right wing, and a wily number 10 has been putting in good performances in his absence.
Granted, it's only been two games, but in both games, Maddison showed why Leicester forked out £20 million for him.
Playing in the hole behind the striker last season for an extremely average Norwich City side that finished 14th in the Championship, Maddison scored 15 goals. This is the quality Leicester knew they needed following Mahrez's departure to Manchester City.
Two games into his Leicester career and Maddison has already got a goal to his name. If not for a stunning save by David De Gea during Leicester's game against United, Maddison would be sitting pretty with 2.
But Maddison's game isn't just about goals. He is strong and creative on the ball, takes up really good positions between the lines, and is a dead ball specialist. And yet arguably his greatest characteristic is his maturity on the ball and his ability to read the game.
You would be forgiven if you thought Maddison was in his mid-twenties. He is in fact still 21.
Yet, he plays with ease on the ball and shows decision making way beyond his years. Maddison has this uncanny ability to understand what positions to take up, and what passes to make based on the momentum of the game. This is a very underrated characteristic that many of the best players in the world possess.
Having lost their best player over the last few seasons, Leicester will be very dependent on Maddison to continue performing if they are to push for Europe this season.
The club has spent well, and have got a good balance of youth and experience in their side. Maddison, however, will be at the forefront of everything positive this team does this season.
#3 Phil Foden
The season is only 3 games old and 18-year-old Phil Foden has already featured twice for his club, Manchester City. Bear in mind that this is a City side with arguably the best midfield in the world. It is a testament to this boy's talent and his commitment to his manager's vision that has allowed Pep Guardiola to place so much faith in him.
Guardiola has built a reputation as a manager who gives young players a chance like no other. Foden, who featured 10 times last season, will undoubtedly play several times more this season.
Guardiola is among the top advocates of Foden's talent and recently said that he is very much part of the first team this season following Kevin De Bruyne's injury.
Foden's ability on the ball is exceptional. His movement is similar to that of Bernardo Silva, and his technique and guile on the ball are reminiscent of the other Silva in Man City - David. Competition for 3 midfield places is at an extreme high at Manchester City, but having come on off the bench again this past weekend, Foden showed he is ready to tussle with the best.
He is going to be groomed well and given the opportunity to play when the moment calls for it.
An u-17 World Cup winner with England last year, Foden is at the forefront of England's next generation of talent, and enough time under the tutelage of Guardiola can see him become the best playmaker in the world over the next few years.
#2 Ryan Sessegnon
Sessegnon made a clean sweep of the PFA awards last year, and that wasn't without rhyme or reason.
The 18-year-old has already featured 72 times for his club, Fulham, making his debut as at 16.
Despite starting the season slowly last year, Sessegnon scored his first professional hat-trick in November and scored 6 goals in January. He was the spark that led to the push to the Premier League. Fulham and Sessegnon swept their way to a 3rd in the Championship last year, playing beautiful, passing football and scoring lots of goals on the way.
Sessegnon's trickery, direct running and ability to be at the right place at the right time saw him contribute heavily for Fulham in the form of goals and assists. Sessegnon isn't a typical young winger these days.
He isn't a flair player with a bag of tricks that can confuse his opponents. He's a player who is dynamic in his running, yes, but his most important characteristic is his intelligence.
He knows where the danger in the final third of the pitch is and does whatever he can to insert himself there. His reading of the game allows him to be a step ahead of his defender, which invariably leads to him being the first to react to a loose ball. His assist for Mitrovic this past weekend against Tottenham is a perfect example of his intelligence in positioning.
Fulham spent a lot of money in the offseason to ensure they stay in the Premier League this year, but it is one of their own in Ryan Sessegnon who will be key to how Fulham play.
The club has started poorly, with 2 straight defeats, but there have been plenty of positives fans can take away from the performances. Their side has shown heart and character, sticking with the style of play that brought them up, and it is this faith that will eventually see them through to another year in England's top league.
It may take a while for this young man and his club to adapt into the Premier League, but once that teething period is done, they will be a danger to every team that faces them.
#1 Ruben Neves
There's a reason Ruben Neves' highlight reel on Youtube consists of stunning goals that any seasoned professional will be proud of. For Neves, however, it's just another day at the office.
Neves was central to Wolves stunning Championship win last year and will be a key man if Wolves are to pull up any trees in the Premier League this season. He has given the top flight a glimpse of his talent with a stunning goal and assist against Everton on the opening weekend, and nearly adding another one against Leicester this past weekend.
Neves is still only 21 but has already featured over a 100 times in his professional career including in the Champions League for his former club, Porto, making him the youngest Portuguese player ever to feature in the CL. Neves also captained his Porto side at 18, becoming the youngest ever captain to feature.
Neves is clearly a leader, and despite not being club captain, he showed this quality when he hauled Wolves back against Everton with a spectacular free kick.
He is also one of the most technically gifted players in the midfield currently playing in the Premier League. His passing range and composure on the ball are comparable to Barcelona legend, Xavi Hernandez. Neves is also aggressive and demanding on the pitch, commanding a sense of swagger that only belongs to the very top players.
It is no wonder Manchester City are already looking to recruit him to their ranks in January.
It's unlikely Neves will make a move away from the team he is at the centre of mid-season, but should his performances continue to improve, he will propel his side up the table, and maybe even lead them to an unlikely European spot next year.
