The definitive list to the best young talent in the England.
Part I looked at the young players who have established themselves as Premiership regulars. Part II looks at the best up and coming talent from across England.
Ever comprehensive, Arjblog runs the rule over the best of the rest, a listing of the youth talent either on the cusp of breaking through or announcing themselves in England, all 22 or under:
English Football's Up and Coming XX:
Marc Albrighton - Aston Villa - The 21 year old English midfielder had an excellent 2010-11 season with 29 appearances and 20 starts that brought a healthy return of five goals and six assists. At a time when Villa seemed stuck in reverse with coaching anarchy, player revolt and bad form, Albrighton was one of the revelations at Villa park, when pitched into the deep end.
Korey Smith - Norwich City - A standout season at the back for promoted Norwich, the young defender was a solid performer for the East Anglia outfit. A former Youth team captain, he has come through the ranks at his club, for whom he started 19 games in a 28 game season.
Ciaran Clark - Aston Villa - A future 50 cap Irish international, his displays at a difficult time for Aston Villa (three goals in 19 games) were technically correct and assured, if not necessarily commanding. Still as a defender, at 20, one has several years to mature, during which time he should progress to becoming one of the first names on the Villa team sheet.
Josh McEachran - Chelsea - The best player on this list, he looks the complete package despite being only 18. Nine appearances in a debut season for Chelsea showed plenty of glimpses of his obvious talent. Chelsea have a future national team standout on their rolls. A full season of appearances are all that separate him from becoming an accomplished league presence.
Nile Ranger - Newcastle - Impressive in spells, the Newcastle forward was sparingly used, coming off the bench in short cameos. 24 appearances but only one notch on the team sheet tell you all you need to know about a player who is good enough to play but still too raw to start. Yet to score in the Premiership despite his obvious pace and control.
Henri Lansbury - Arsenal / Norwich City - Despite being only 20, he is far too good to still be on the periphery at Arsenal. The youngster impressed during a season split between England's U-21 squad and Norwich City. 23 appearances, 15 starts brought four goals and three assists as he was one of the crucial members of a successful promotion season, achieving cult hero status while just missing out on the player of the year award.
Chris Gunter - Nottingham Forest - At 21, he is already one of the first names on the club's teamsheet as one of the pillars of their defence. Having made his loan move from Spurs permanent in 2009, as a teenager, he has since flourished for the club that flirted with promotion for much of the last two seasons. Already a 29 cap international for Wales but a little temperamental.
Joe Bennett - Middlesbrough - An England U-19 and U-21 international, Bennett was one of the division's best young defenders with 28 starts, 32 games and over 2600 minutes of actions for the Riverside club. Attracted some interest from Premiership sides but will hold down a starting spot at Middlesbrough for years to come.
Kyle Walker - Tottenham Hotspur / Queen's Park Rangers / Aston Villa - Excellent during 20 full games at right back for the Championship winning club from East London, Kyle Walker was one of the loan signings of the season. Like many of his cohort, the defender is developing early and already looks an accomplished player at just 20. Although he was sent back out to Villa in 2011 for a third straight loan spell, he could lend a hand at parent club.
Nathan Clyne - Crystal Palace - The 20 year old played every single minute of Palace's season starting all 46 games. The defender's presence was a reassuring sight at the back for Palace during a difficult campaign that saw them just miss relegation, experiences that should add to Clyne's mental repertoire and edge.
Adam Matthews - Cardiff City / Celtic - 40 appearances in the past two seasons for Cardiff City saw him win a transfer to Scottish Giants Celtic. Nominally a right back, his performances far more mature than his age (19) would suggest. Already a full international for Wales.
Matt Phillips - Blackpool - The 20 year old winger impressed in an eventually doomed campaign for the Tangerines. 26 games and one goal earned rave reviews as his pace and dribbling hinted at great potential, once refined. Despite a call up to the England U-20 squad, his return to the Championship provides an excellent opportunity to hone his skills while terrorizing opposing defences.
Tom Cleverley - Manchester United / Wigan Athletic - Being lower down in the pecking order at United, he took his opportunity at Wigan with both hands. 25 games brought four goals for the 21 year old, along with continued improvement and rave reviews. Cleverley scored the decisive goal in a 2–1 away win over Wolverhampton Wanderers which lifted Wigan out of the relegation zone.
Alex Chamberlain - Southampton - The fanciful, To The Manor Born name aside, the kid has real talent and, like a certain previous Saints starlet also lured to Ashburton Grove, more than a healthy dose of pace. The 17 year old winger scored nine times in 36 games during a season of electrifying performances that brought promotion to St. Mary's.
Wilfried Zaha - Crystal Palace - The 2011 Crystal Palace Young Player of the year, Zaha was an irrepressible presence up front for The Selhurst Park Side. The Ivorian is still not as prolific as he could be but 41 games and 26 starts reflect a growing sense of responsibility entrusted on his young shoulders.
Lee Hodson - Watford - Yet another defender on this list, the 19 year old Northern Irishman has played 65 times in the past two seasons for the Moose. Four caps for the national side are basic reward for a player who is now a regular starter for his club. If Watford are to improve on their midtable position they must rely on players like Hodson.
Morgan Schneiderlin - Southampton - Having come through the ranks at Strasbourg and represented France at every age level since U-16, the defensive midfielder is one of the key impact lynchpins for his club that is now plying its trade in the Championship. 27 appearances saw him rack up close to 2000 minutes of football and will be one of the best at his position this season in the Championship.
William Buckley - Watford / Brighton and Hove Albion - 32 appearances and five goals in 2010-11 saw the 21 year old striker move to The Seagulls for a record fee of 1 million pounds in the summer of 2011. Despite his tender years, saw only six players play more than him and is now very much one of the stars of Gus Poyet's promoted side.
Jordan Mutch - Birmingham City / Watford - With a plethora of experienced midfielders ahead of him the 19 year old was sent for a season of apprenticeship at Watford where he impressed notching five goals in 23 appearances that saw him on the pitch for just less than 2000 minutes of football.
Andy King - Leicester City - Another impressive young Welshman on this list and plying his trade in the Championship, the 22 year old is captain and central midfield general of his club. An impressive return of 34 goals in 144 games since his debut in 2007 makes him the Championship's best kept secret, one that makes Chelsea's decision to let him go somewhat odd.
Connor Wickham - Ipswich Town / Sunderland - At 18 the striker had a breakout season with the Tractor boys, sealing a move to Sunderland for an impressive 8 million pounds during the off season. Although the step up a division an be daunting, Wickham's impressive numbers make it look likely that he will find success in the Premiership. 37 appearances, 24 starts and close 2500 minutes of football brought 9 goals and an assist.
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