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A look at six emerging talents to keep track of...

England's 'NextGen': uncapped wonderkids aged from 16-21

2021/11/11 12:40
E0

With the likes of Mount, Foden, Sancho, Saka and Bellingham firmly in the mix at senior level, England already have a wealth of young talent to call upon - but there's plenty more coming through the ranks. 

Gareth Southgate's Euro 2020 finalists have a World Cup qualifying double header in store, hosting Albania on Friday at Wembley before travelling to San Marino next Monday - while many of the Three Lions' youth sides are also in action. 

The senior side require four points from their two qualifiers to ensure their place at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, and should they - as expected - book safe passage to next year's showpiece, there are a number of whizzkids who could force their way into Southgate's thinking over the coming year. 

To fill you in on some of them, we've handpicked six English prodigies aged between 16 and 21 - the previso being that we were only able to choose one 16-year-old, one 17-year-old, one 18-year-old etc. 

Away we go: there's a composed ball-playing centre-half to kick us off...


©Getty / Sebastian Frej/MB Media

21 - Mark Guehi (Crystal Palace)

Set to play for England Under-21s v Czech Republic (Thursday, Euro U21 Championship qualifier)

Traditionally strong at centre-half, England have looked a little light in the position over recent years, Kyle Walker drafted into a back three alongside John Stones and Harry Maguire during the Three Lions' journey to the semi-finals of the 2018 World Cup in Russia.

The likes of Conor Coady and Tyrone Mings currently provide decent cover, but there is a sense that both the Wolves and Villa defenders may not quite be of sufficient quality to consistently start for England, and may struggle to contain elite opposition. 

The emergence of Palace's Guehi therefore will be warmly welcomed by Gareth Southgate, who will have monitored the Chelsea academy graduate's progress from before he won the U-17 World Cup with the Young Lions back in 2017, Guehi scoring in the final in a 5-2 win over Spain.   

After an impressive campaign in the Championship with Swansea last season, the imposing and composed defender has taken the step up to the top flight firmly in his stride, Palace gaining momentum, and a more possession-based playing style, under Patrick Vieira this season. 

Having already captained England's Under-21s, Guehi appears to be a natural leader with the technical and physical capacity to play at the very top. If he continues to impress for Palace, a senior England call-up should be on the cards very soon. 


©Getty / James Williamson - AMA

20 - Cameron Archer (Aston Villa)

Uncapped at any level by England

We have included Archer in this piece, despite him being the only player on the list yet to receive an England call-up at any level, simply because his red-hot form this season demands his inclusion. 

In 623 minutes of football across 10 games for Aston Villa in 2021/22, the 20-year-old forward has already racked up a dozen goals, including a Carabao Cup hat-trick in a 6-0 win over League Two Barrow.

Although the Villans are now entering a period of transition following the firing of Dean Smith, and appointment of Steven Gerrard, Archer has forced himself into the reckoning as the Midlanders' third choice striker behind Ollie Watkins and Danny Ings, and his future looks bright. 

Also eligible to play for both Jamaica and Wales, England will need to act swiftly to involve Archer if he continues his current rate of progress. 


©Getty / Soccrates Images

19 - Cole Palmer (Man City)

Set to play for England Under-21s v Czech Republic (Thursday, Euro U21 Championship qualifier)

Manchester City's academy has a conveyor belt of talent churning away behind the scenes, and Palmer is undoubtedly one of the Citizens' leading lights at youth level. 

Still relatively slight in stature, Palmer's outstanding technical ability and unerring eye for goal are perhaps only outweighed by his football intelligence: his ability to make good decisions and evaluate situations quickly often noted by insiders at City. 

One of only three teenagers ever to score for Man City in the Champions League (along with Phil Foden and Kelechi Iheanacho), Palmer has already found the net twice in three appearances for England's Under-21s, and the sky appears to be the limit for a playmaker who is likely to play an increasing part in Pep Guardiola's plans this season. 

With Foden, Sancho and now Palmer coming through at City, English football has a lot to thank the Citizens' academy system for!


©Getty / Matt Watson

18 - Tino Livramento (Southampton)

Called up by England Under-21s, but withdrew through injury

An unfamiliar name to most prior to his move to Southampton in the summer, 18-year-old Livramento arrived at St Mary's with pedigree having won Chelsea's Academy Player of the Year award last season to follow in the footsteps of the likes of Mason Mount, Reece James and Fikayo Tomori. 

Despite his schooling at one of the best academies in the country, it was unrealistic to expect Livramento to hit the ground running at Premier League - but that is exactly what he has done. 

At Playmaker, we've been banging on about the right-back's outstanding form and boundless potential since the start of the season, his ability to turn defence into attack with rampaging runs down the right flank quickly flagging him up as a young player to watch. 

Such have been the quality of his displays, Ralph Hassenhuttl has already had to tinker with his line-up due to Livramento's impact - last season's right-back Kyle Walker-Peters switched to left back in recent games to accommodate the emergence of the Southampton boss' sensational summer signing. 

To get the lowdown on Livramento, we chatted with fan account SaintsExtra this week to gain further insights on a player who Gareth Southgate has already namechecked this season. Check out the full article here.


©Getty / Tim Goode - PA Images

17 - Oakley Cannonier (Liverpool)

Part of England's Under-18 set-up

Previously more famous as the ballboy whose quick thinking helped Liverpool score one of the most memorable goals in their recent history, Oakley Cannonier looks set to outstrip that contribution with his own exploits on the pitch for the Reds.

The famous goal in question was the quickly-taken corner from Trent Alexander-Arnold, that was finished off by Divock Origi, which sealed an incredible comeback against Barcelona in the 2019 Champions League semi-final.

Now, the top scorer across both North and South divisions of the U18 Premier League this term, the 17-year.old Liverpool forward is writing his own story: averaging a goal every 52 minutes.

His tally this season includes a hat-trick in a 5-0 win over Manchester United, his speed, tenacity and awareness more than making up for his relatively lightweight frame. 

Recently called up by England U18s, Cannonier's name is certainly on the radar in the international youth ranks and his form this season suggests there's plenty more to come from him. 


©Getty / Jacob King - PA Images

16 - Jobe Bellingham (Birmingham City)

Capped at England U-17 level

Yep, there's another uber-talented Bellingham coming through!

Older brother Jude has certainly blazed a trail since his emergence at Birmingham City in the 2019/20 season, the 18-year-old now an established player at Borussia Dortmund in the German top flight and a burgeoning presence in England's midfield at senior international level. 

Two years Jude's junior, Jobe appears to be cut from similar cloth, his athleticism drawing comparisons with his elder brother during his displays for Birmingham's youth sides this season. 

More of a winger, Jobe has scored three goals at Under-18 level, and also featured for the Blues' Under-23s, the youngster also making the bench for City's senior squad in the Carabao Cup. 

For a player who only turned 16 in September, there is already plenty of buzz surrounding Jobe's potential, and his future - with recent reports from German newspaper Bild indicating that Dortmund are considering an offer to reunite the Bellingham brothers in the Bundesliga.

Watch this space... 

 

England
Marc Guéhi
NameAddji Keaninkin Marc-Israel Guéhi
Born/Age2000-07-13(23 -yrs-old)
Nationality
England
England
Dual Nationality
Ivory Coast
Ivory Coast
PositionDefender (Centre Back)

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