Pre-season games offer clubs the chance to get their players ready for the season in terms of fitness and conditioning, as well as build their club’s reputation in different parts of the world. Every year, academy youngsters and new signings look to stake a claim in the team before the season kicks off.
With only two weeks until the start of the Premier League season; Who are the young English players ready for a chance in the first games of the season?
Aaron Wan-Bissaka: The very modern-day fullback joined Manchester United from Crystal Palace for £50M this summer. The 21-year-old is defensively astute as well as decent in attack, covering up ground to effectively feature in both phases of play. English-born Wales International Daniel James also joined the red devils from Swansea. He is a pacy and skillful winger with a lot of creative talent, who would greatly improve United’s attacking play; especially that problematic right wing if he is deployed there.
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| Manchester United’s new Welsh wizard Daniel James. Image Credit: Getty Images |
Mason Greenwood made his United debut in the business-end of last season but the 17-year-old is already a sensation. He’s ambipedal and can play anywhere along the frontline, he utterly deserves a first-team chance- and would get a fair run- with two goals already in pre season.
Mason Mount had two years away on loan from Chelsea and is finally set for a first team spot, with the blues already handing him a five-year contract extension. A fantastic season at Derby County last year is set to continue now that Frank Lampard will remain his manager in West London. A potential midfield combination alongside Mateo Kovačić and N’golo Kanté to start the season already looks tantalizing.
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| Mason Mount had a fantastic season developing under Frank Lampard’s tutelage last season. Image Credit: PA Images. |
Tammy Abraham is another whose chance was enhanced by Chelsea’s FIFA transfer ban. The 21-year-old is a deadly striker who scored 26 goals on loan in the championship last season; he has a fair chance to impress and stake his place ahead of Olivier Giroud and Michy Batshuayi at Chelsea. A goal in pre-season so far, against Barcelona, puts him in good stead.
Reiss Nelson: The 19-year-old gunners’ winger has the potential to become their go-to wide man with or without Wilfred Zaha. He has Champions League experience playing for Hoffenheim on-loan last term where he scored seven goals in 23 league appearances.
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| Arsenal’s Reiss Nelson. Image Credit: Rob Carr/International Champions Cup via Getty Images. |
Joe Willock had a chance to impress in the Arsenal first team last term and this season might be his breakthrough year. The 19-year-old attacking midfielder now has only Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Alex Iwobi ahead of him in that department following Aaron Ramsey’s departure. Certainly one to keep an eye on. Promising striker Eddie Nketiah already made his debut in the 2017/18 season and scored a match-winning brace in the league cup against Norwich; he scored his first league goal in the final game of last season and 2019/20 is his year. With 3 pre-season goals already, including a brace against Fiorentina, he looks a ready option behind Alexandre Lacazette and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
Rhian Brewster: The 2017 U-20 world cup golden boot winner failed to make an appearance for Liverpool last season due to a long-term injury. However, he is set for his belated first team debut this year with Daniel Sturridge having left the club; and Liverpool’s front-three from last season enjoying extended breaks from their summer international tournaments. He already looks the part with four goals in pre-season so far.
