5 of the Premier League's Top Young Homegrown Players

European football has a problem with homegrown players, according to a new study issued by the CIES Football Observatory.

In its monthly report released Tuesday, CIES noted that the number of "club-trained" players in Europe has dropped to a record low. All European associations have seen their numbers drop, including England.

According to the report, just 19.7 percent of players in 31 top-division UEFA leagues are "club-trained." According to UEFA's definition, club-trained players fit the following criteria: 

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One who, between the age of 15 (or the start of the season during which he turns 15) and 21 (or the end of the season during which he turns 21) has been registered with his current club for a period, continuous or not, of three entire seasons or 36 months. This is irrespective of his nationality and age.

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But it's not all bad news. Despite the relative lack of club-trained players across Europe, England still features some exciting young talents who have come through the ranks and are making an impact in their respective clubs' first teams. This slideshow highlights five of the most promising.

Before we begin, please note that for our list, we've followed UEFA's guidelines for homegrown players in order to remain in line with CIES' findings.

Jesse Lingard

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Jesse Lingard came through the ranks of Manchester United's youth system, joining the club at age seven and making his first-team debut in 2014. He scored his first senior goal last weekend, helping United beat West Bromwich Albion at Old Trafford, 2-0.

Lingard easily qualifies for club-trained status. He was with United in 2007-08, the season during which he turned 15, and stayed with the club continuously until being loaned out in 2012-13 (and thereafter).

A serious injury ended the winger's 2014-15 campaign before it began, but Lingard recovered to make England's under-21 squad for Euro 2015 and scored the winner against Sweden with a sweet half-volley.

In a recent article for the Daily Mail, Dominic King praised Lingard's tenacity:

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He might have been at Old Trafford since he was seven and played in the same 2011 FA Youth Cup winning team as Paul Pogba and Ravel Morrison yet, unlike those prodigies, he has continually had to deal with questions about making the grade.

There is a reason, though, that he has lasted 16 years at Old Trafford without being cut adrift. Lingard is devoted to football and his attitude to work has struck a chord with all the coaches he has worked under, enabling him to clear hurdles such as a lack of size in his youth and serious injury.

Every time a question has been asked of Lingard, he has answered positively.

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One gets the feeling that Lingard will have the opportunity to answer many more questions this season as he stakes his claim to a regular spot in United's first team.

"Physically he has been a late developer, and we think there is still some physical growth to come," England U21 coach Gareth Southgate said, via PA Sport (h/t ESPN FC). "But he's an intelligent footballer, and he will carry out the role he's asked to do, which I think the manager there will quite like."

Southgate added, "He is at a club where you know you have to perform every week, but over the years that's how the youngsters there have been raised."

Ruben Loftus-Cheek

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Midfielder Ruben Loftus-Cheek has been with Chelsea since 2004, when he was eight. In 2014-15, he made his Premier League debut with the Blues and finished with three league appearances.

This term, the 19-year-old has already appeared twice in the Premier League and once in the UEFA Champions League. Competition for places in Chelsea's midfield is fierce, but the England U21 international has loads of potential.

In December 2014, Barney Ronay wrote for The Guardian:

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Loftus-Cheek is an intriguing prospect, whatever the wider picture, a 6'4" central midfielder of considerable long-striding grace who has been at Chelsea since 2004, the same year Mourinho himself arrived, and a captain through the age groups for Chelsea and England. Encouragingly he also seems a natural fit in a position English players have struggled to fill, a shielding, covering, deep-playmaking presence with a calmness in possession and a naturally telescopic reach.

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In 2015-16, Loftus-Cheek will be hoping some of that considerable potential turns into a sustained run of games at Chelsea.

Harry Kane

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Any fan of English football knows Harry Kane's name now. But the 22-year-old striker first had to work his way through the ranks at Tottenham Hotspur.

Kane joined the club in 2004 and spent his age-15 and -16 seasons (2008-09 and 2009-10) exclusively with the club. He spent another half-season with Spurs in 2010 before joining Leyton Orient on loan in January 2011.

After a few more loan spells, he enjoyed a breakout campaign with Tottenham in 2014-15 (his age-21 season), scoring 21 Premier League goals. After a slow start to the current term, he has rediscovered his touch, netting six times in his last four games in all competitions.

"You could see from the day he walked in he had a real desire to improve himself as a footballer," former Tottenham and England striker Clive Allen said via BBC Sport. "And the one thing I'd say about him, which unfortunately you don't say about a lot of young footballers, is that he had a passion for the game. He loves football, he loves playing, he loves scoring goals."

Ross Barkley

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England international midfielder Ross Barkley was already with Everton when he began his age-15 season in 2008. He continued exclusively with the Toffees in 2008-09, 2009-10 and 2011-12 before going out on loan with Sheffield Wednesday and Leeds United. Along the way, he has compiled much more than his three years of experience with Everton between ages 15 and 21.

And until December, he's still just 21.

That's a fantastic thing if you're a fan of Everton, England or both. Barkley has quickly established himself as a top talent at both the club and international level, and his future is undeniably bright.

"He's got great potential as an impact player," England manager Roy Hodgson said, via Sky Sports. "He's a magnificent runner with the ball. In terms of being able to run with the ball with pace and power, you could compare him to Paul Gascoigne."

Hodgson added, "Gascoigne was a powerful player, powerful runner with the ball; once he set off and went by people they didn't catch him. Ross Barkley is the same. He's a player with excellent technique and can score goals; he interprets the role behind the front player very well."

Saido Berahino

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Of the five players listed here, West Bromwich Albion's Saido Berahino seems the likeliest to leave his current club. At the end of the previous window, the English striker was set to join Tottenham Hotspur, only to see the move fall apart.

Berahino vowed never to play for West Brom again, according to the Guardian, but has since gone back on those words. Despite a drop in form following the failed transfer, Berahino has netted three times in 10 Premier League appearances so far this season.

After joining West Brom in 2004, Berahino spent his age-15 and -16 seasons (2008-09 and 2009-10) with the Baggies before starting a series of loans. He broke into the Baggies' first team in 2013-14 and enjoyed his best campaign in 2014-15, scoring 14 league goals in his age-21 season.

Berahino might not remain with West Brom for much longer, but his past performances indicate that he's likely to enjoy a successful career in England's top flight.