Wednesday 8 July 2015 11:48, UK
Harry Kane stunned many as he went from struggling Championship loanee to 30-goal top-flight hero at Tottenham and England striker in 2014/15.
Predicting the Premier League's next breakout star can be a tricky business.
But here we pick 10 players with the potential to emerge as heroes in 2015/16…
Rolando Aarons (Newcastle)
It’s fair to say pacy young forward Aarons likes to try and make things happen. He attempted 12 dribbles in his 128 minutes of Premier League action in 2014/15. That was a frequency greater than any other Newcastle player and put him in the top 10 in the country. That enthusiasm might well be embraced by new manager Steve McClaren in a team that needs a bit of fantasy in the final third. Aarons showed promise at the Toulon tournament in the summer and could kick on in 2015/16.
Izzy Brown (Chelsea)
Brown has shown considerable pedigree since joining from West Brom. He is a two-time FA Youth Cup winner with Chelsea, was part of the England team that won the European Under-17 Championship and has since graduated to the U19s – scoring a brace against Italy in November. Brown was also man of the match in Chelsea’s UEFA Youth Cup final win over Shakhtar Donetsk this spring and made his Chelsea debut in May. Could this be the year he breaks through at the Bridge?
Ruben Loftus-Cheek (Chelsea)
Loftus-Cheek impressed with a composed full debut for Chelsea against Liverpool in May and certainly has the physique to succeed in senior football. The 19-year-old was also one of the few stand-outs for the England U21s this summer despite limited opportunities. He was criticised by Jose Mourinho on Chelsea’s post-season tour but it’s worth remembering the coach wouldn't complain if he didn't rate him. Loftus-Cheek can expect to pick up some of John Obi Mikel’s minutes in 2015/16.
Andreas Pereira (Man Utd)
Pereira’s wonder goal for Brazil in the U20 World Cup final was just the latest indication of what this prodigious talent is capable of. There’s a buzz about the 19-year-old at Manchester United with Pereira flexible enough to play anywhere across the attacking midfield zones. He made his Premier League debut against Tottenham in March and with Louis van Gaal famed for handing opportunities for young players if they are good enough, Pereira has every chance.
Diego Poyet (West Ham)
Poyet showed his potential when he was named as Charlton’s Player of the Year while still a teenager at The Valley but progress has been slightly slower since his switch to West Ham. He featured in the first game of Slaven Bilic’s reign but while academy boss Terry Westley singled out the midfielder for praise, he also pointed out that the youngster must look to play the killer pass more often if he is to step up. Can Gus’s boy make the transition over the next 12 months?
Jose Pozo (Man City)
There are plenty of big names at Manchester City but that didn't stop Manuel Pellegrini getting Pozo involved in the first-team last season. The teenage striker, who Pellegrini has said he believes in a lot, scored on his debut against Sheffield Wednesday and made three further appearances in the Premier League. “Manuel gives trust to the young players and he makes the young players feel closer to the first team,” said Pozo. How much closer can the Spaniard get in 2015/16?
Alex Pritchard (Tottenham)
Pritchard enjoyed a superb season on loan at Brentford in 2014/15, scoring 12 goals and assisting seven times for his team-mates. Interestingly, he created more chances from short passes than anyone else in the Championship, suggesting he can step up to the top flight. Injury cut short his Euro U21 adventure just as he was impressing but with Europa League games to contend for at Tottenham, he’s likely to get a chance of some description at White Hart Lane. Can he take it?
Jerome Sinclair (Liverpool)
Sinclair has long been touted as a talented prospect at Anfield, having made his Liverpool debut less than a week after turning 16. A loan move to Wigan failed to ignite last season but he did make his Premier League debut for the Reds at Chelsea in May - and he doesn't turn 19 until September. There has been talk of a loan move but a new contract is believed to be on the table and with a lot of changes in personnel at Liverpool this season, there is still time for Sinclair to impress.
Jordan Turnbull (Southampton)
It’s no secret that Southampton have a history of producing quality players at their academy and while the team’s rise might make it more difficult for players to break through, there are no signs of the production line slowing just yet. Jordan Turnbull could well be the next player to have an impact at first-team level after picking up a host of awards while on loan at Swindon in 2014/15. Ronald Koeman might be tempted to give the young centre-back his chance in the Europa League.
James Wilson (Man Utd)
When Wilson scored twice on his Premier League debut against Hull in May 2014, it was widely predicted that 2014/15 would be his year. Van Gaal even cited Wilson when explaining the decision to sell Danny Welbeck. But while there were chances off the bench and the striker added further goals against QPR and Cambridge, there was no big breakthrough. At 19, time is on his side though and with United’s forward line going through a period of transition, a chance could yet be seized.
