Top 5 youngsters who have impressed in the Premier League this season

In 2012-13, little-known Michu created a massive impact for Swansea City to become one of the season’s best players, which led to the Spaniard getting a national team cap. Similarly, the current term has heralded a new set of footballers who have taken the Premier League by storm, going from unknowns to household names thanks to impressive performances for their clubs.

Here are the five best wonderkids who have had a breakthrough season in the Barclays Premier League this time around:

1. Ross Barkley

Having been at Everton since he was 12, Barkley was always said to a player of high potential and ability. However, till the start of the season, the midfielder only made sporadic appearances for the Toffees’ senior side, understandable given his early years and the competition for places in the team.

It has been only this season, after fellow youngster Jack Rodwell’s move away to Manchester City and a change in manager, that the 19-year old has been able to make a big impact. Earning a regular spot in Roberto Martinez’s new-look Everton side, the midfielder has combined with the likes of Romelu Lukaku and Kevin Mirallas to devastating effect, with his 2 goals only a small measure of his enterprising play.

Owning great skills with the ball, a good shot and impressive pass completion numbers (87%), the Englishman has seen his stock grow in recent months, which led to him earning a senior England cap in September this year against Moldova.

2. Adnan Januzaj

A lot was made of Adnan Januzaj during Manchester United’s pre-season tours this summer, as the 18-year-old showed great promise in friendly games where David Moyes hesitated to field his big names.

However, while many expected Januzaj to earn only limited opportunities through the league season, the winger has grasped onto the chances that he has been provided, and thanks in part to dismal showings by a few of United’s more prominent players, has seen a significant amount of gametime in the last few months.

He has not disappointed either, showing great ability on either wing to nail down a regular squad berth for himself, as well as become a fan favourite at Old Trafford. In his first league start, Januzaj scored two goals to help United score a comeback 2-1 victory against basement-dwellers Sunderland, and has thereafter featured in most of the Red Devils’ league games.

With plaudits coming from one and all, Januzaj, it seems, has a bright future ahead.

3. Andros Townsend

Andros Townsend is currently bearing the fruits of patience for having stuck it out with Tottenham Hotspur when many would have contemplated a move away from the club.

The 22-year old was sent out on loan nine times by the Spurs after progressing to their senior team, and given the side’s increased resources over the summer, was expected to pushed behind the likes of Aaron Lennon and Erik Lamela in the team’s pecking order this term.

However, offered chances by manager Andre Villas-Boas at the start of the season, Townsend has impressed on the Spurs’ right wing, scoring twice in his 10 appearances while making many more assists.

His impressive performances have earned him a couple of senior England caps as well, with Townsend scoring a goal on his national debut against Montenegro to help boost his chances of earning a squad place for the World Cup in Brazil next year.

4. Ravel Morrison

Many inside Manchester United knew that Ravel Morrison was talented. It was only the application of his talent that left a lot to be desired, as issues away from the pitch clearly hampered his progress, leading to the youngster struggling to get opportunities at Old Trafford.

When he decided to move to West Ham United, Sir Alex Ferguson said to Sam Allardyce about Morrison: “A brilliant footballer, Brilliant ability, Top class ability, Needs to get away from Manchester and start a new life.”

That is exactly what he has been able to do this season. In a rebirth of sorts, Morrison has shown great poise and skill for the Hammers in his 10 games so far, notching up an impressive four goals already. One of those four was a blinder against Tottenham at White Hart Lane, to which manager Sam Allardyce said: “That’s a genius goal for me. You’ll struggle to see a better goal than that all season.”

If he can keep up his performances, then Morrison could even have a shot of making the England team for Brazil next year, which would be great progress from where his career was heading a few years back.

5. Luke Shaw

Even before he had played his first game for Southampton, Saints’ youth product Luke Shaw was a wanted man by the Premier League’s top guns. During the 2012 January transfer window, when Shaw was 16, Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester City were said to have had submitted bids for the left-back, while the likes of Manchester United and Liverpool have also has been eyeing the defender in recent times.

However, despite the pressure from outside, Shaw committed to the Saints earlier this year by signing a five-year contract, and under the stewardship of Mauricio Pochettino, has been part of a back-four that has conceded only three goals in nine games so far, also notching up a couple of assists.

Given his propensity to attack down the left flank, Shaw has been compared by many to former Southampton player Gareth Bale, with the 18-year-old possessing the ability to match the success that Bale has enjoyed in recent seasons.