Last year we wrote about the best young players in the world. This time we have turned our attention to the best young English players. Many of these 16 and 17 year olds have made few Premier League appearances but I expect that to change in the coming twelve months. Interestingly, two of the best English soccer academies, Manchester City and Middlesborough do not have a player listed.
Jose Baxter 16 - Everton - Striker
Baxter has been tagged with the title of better than Wayne Rooney was at 14. Bootle-born, he left school last summer and joined the Everton first-team squad that toured Switzerland and the US. Made his competitive senior debut with a substitute appearance at home to Blackburn in August, becoming Everton’s youngest first-team player.
Mark Beevers 18 - Sheffield Wednesday - Defender
Last season’s supporters’ player of the year at Hillsborough, the centre-half has signed a contract to keep him at Wednesday until 2012. He stands 6ft 4in tall, is deceptively quick across the turf and strong in the air. Expect a lot of interest from Premier League teams this January and in the summer for this rising star.
John Bostock 16 - Tottenham Hotspur - Midfielder
Bostock has already been involved in one controversial transfer with his summer move to Spurs for an initial £700,000. He was Crystal Palace’s youngest player when he made his debut at 15 years 287 days last season. Tall, elegant and visionary, the attacking midfielder became Tottenham’s youngest player, at 16 years 295 days, against Dinamo Zagreb.
Nathan Delfouneso 17 - Aston Villa - Striker
The 6ft 1in Birmingham-born striker made his first-team debut earlier this season in the UEFA Cup against Hafnarfjorour and scored a hat-trick on his first appearance for the England Under-17s in October 2007. Delfouneso has been a prolific scorer at the academy and reserve level for Villa.
Fabian Delph 18 - Leeds United - Midfielder
Leeds have already turned down a £1m bid for Delph from Newcastle United. He is a dynamic talent who has just broken into Stuart Pearce’s England Under-21 squad. Arsenal and Manchester United are also seriously interested, but his value has risen closer to £6m according to Leeds.
Daniel Drinkwater 18 - Manchester United - Midfielder
Two-footed and boasting a fine passing range, Drinkwater has been with Manchester United since he was nine. He is an England Under-19 international who spent most of last season on the sidelines injured.
Jordan Henderson 18 - Sunderland - Midfielder
An elusive right-sided midfielder or deep-lying forward, and equally happy in the hole or drifting wide right, the Wearside-born Henderson caught the eye of England’s leading clubs during Sunderland’s run to the FA Youth Cup semi-finals last season. He made his first senior start against Blackburn in the Carling Cup recently.
Gavin Hoyte 18 - Arsenal - Defender
Younger brother of the former Arsenal full-back, Justin, the defender joined the club at nine and has proved quick, athletic and can play both at right-back and centre-half. A regular with the England Under-19s squad, Hoyte is part of Arsène Wenger’s Carling Cup squad.
Henri Lansbury 18 - Arsenal - Midfielder
Strongly built and powerful yet creative on the ball and a goal threat, the England Under-17 midfielder has been at Arsenal since he was nine. Lansbury’s missed the second half of last season as he recovered from the glandular fever, but he is back to full fitness now.
Josh McEachran 15 - Chelsea - Midfielder
A skilful left-footed midfielder whom Chelsea
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