The Premier League prides itself on the elevation of young talent from scholarships to reserve to first-team with the likes of Trent Alexander-Arnold, Tammy Abraham and Marcus Rashford all having come through top flight youth systems. But, sometimes, youth players find it difficult to breach the first-team glass ceiling. Here are five that are worth keeping an eye out for:
Phil Foden
Touted as the next David Silva, Phil Foden has found game time difficult to come by for Manchester City this season, despite head coach Pep Guardiola labelling the midfielder the “most talented player” he had ever seen and one that he wouldn’t sell him for £500 million.
Foden has played over half an hour in a Premier League match just once – away at Arsenal on the 15th of December – and just over two hours all season. Though signing a new five-year contract in December 2018, the 19-year-old has failed to make his mark on City and the top flight just yet.
Rhian Brewster
19-year-old Liverpool starlet Rhian Brewster has failed to penetrate Jurgen Klopp’s first-team squad who are current 1/100 favorites to win the EPL with the best usa sports betting sites. In fact, the Golden Boot winner from the Under-17s World Cup Final in 2017 and now six-times capped Under-21s international, has not represented Liverpool at all in the Premier League so far this season – and just twice in the EFL Cup – and has only ever made two top flight appearances in a Liverpool jersey.
However, when looking at the competition in front of him – Mo Salah, Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino – there is perhaps no surprise that Brewster has not yet been given the nod by Klopp.
Oliver Skipp
It is never a welcoming sight for a youngster when your club goes out and smashes their club-record transfer for a player specialising in your position. But that’s exactly what Oliver Skipp has had to face since Tottenham’s capture of £65 million-rated Tanguy Ndombele.
Three times capped by the England Under-21s, Skipp has accumulated a grand total of 12 minutes on the field for Spurs so far this season In fact, the midfielder played more games in 2018-19 with eight than the three he has mustered so far. And, with the arrival of Jose Mourinho whose blocking of youth has sometimes been questioned, Skipp could face a lengthy wait for another opportunity.
Morgan Gibbs-White
Whilst the three above have failed to crack the first-team, Morgan Gibbs-White has cracked it and then fallen out of favour. The midfielder played 26 games for Wolves in 2018-19, but has managed just three this season.
Another member of the England Under-17s that won the Euros two years ago, 19-year-old Gibbs-White seems to have been dropped out of head coach Nuno Espirito Santo’s reckoning, playing just two hours of soccer in the top flight.
Ben Johnson
Given West Ham’s defensive frailties, they currently find themselves at 3/1 with gambling sites and real money slots platforms.
Many Hammers fans are still wondering why Ben Johnson has not been given an opportunity. At 19 years of age, Johnson made his debut against champions Manchester City last season, man-marking Riyad Mahrez as West Ham lost just 1-0. Though playing at left-back that game, Johnson’s natural position is a right-back, having made the change from winger.
Johnson has failed to make an appearance for Manuel Pellegrini in the top flight this season, but all that could change when the Premier League season resumes.
