A team comprised of the best players aged 21 and under in the Premier League. One of the great things about football is watching a promising young footballer develop into a world star.
The players in question need
to have talent, of course, but they also need the hunger to reach the very top.
Not every young footballer
possesses that required determination, which is why some fail to fulfill their
potential, but those who do give themselves a real chance of becoming a
high-profile star name.
This XI is made up of players
aged 21 or under currently on the books of Premier League clubs.
Some of them have already
achieved plenty, despite their tender ages, while others still have a way to
go.
Goalkeeper: Thibaut Courtois
| Chelsea (on loan at Atletico Madrid)
 |
Courtois is Belgium's No. 1
'keeper (©GettyImages)
|
No Premier League goalkeeper
playing regularly is younger than De Gea, but Courtois - who could be Chelsea's
No. 1 from the start of next season - is.
The Belgium international is
already one of Europe's best goalkeepers. Can Chelsea hold onto him?
Left-back: Luke Shaw |
Southampton
 |
| Shaw is a future England left-back (©GettyImages) |
England's long-term
replacement for Ashley Cole?
The 18-year-old has been
outstanding since breaking into the Saints' first-team - and he looks destined
to reach the top.
Excellent going forward and
improving defensively, Shaw will soon be the best left-back in the country.
Centre-back: Phil Jones |
Manchester United
 |
| Jones could become a United great (©GettyImages) |
Sir Alex Ferguson once
claimed that Phil Jones could become Manchester United's greatest ever player.
The 21-year-old looks set to
establish his place at the heart of the Red Devils' defence, although his
outstanding natural ability means he has been played in several positions since
arriving at Old Trafford in 2011.
Centre-back: Matija Nastasic
| Manchester City
 |
| Nastasic is a cool customer (©GettyImages) |
One of the best young,
central defenders in Europe, Matija Nastasic could be at the Etihad Stadium for
many years to come.
The 20-year-old Serbia
international always looks calm and assured despite his tender age.
Right-back: Carl Jenkinson |
Arsenal
 |
| Jenkinson continues to improve (©GettyImages) |
Carl Jenkinson endured a
difficult start to his Arsenal career but has come on leaps and bounds over the
last 12 months or so.
The 21-year-old England
international is still not the Gunners' first-choice right-back just yet, but
it might not be too long until he takes over from Bacary Sagna.
Central midfield: Ross
Barkley | Everton
 |
| Barkley has already been capped by England (©GettyImages) |
One of the revelations of
this season, Ross Barkley looks set to become a real Premier League star.
The stocky 19-year-old has
been compared to Manchester United star Wayne Rooney - and the England international
could easily play for a club of the same - or similar - stature in one or two
years' time.
Central midfield: Jack
Wilshere | Arsenal
 |
| Wilshere made his Arsenal debut in 2008 (©GettyImages) |
Already firmly established
for both Arsenal and England, it's sometimes easy to forget that Jack Wilshere
is only 21 years old.
The Gunners' midfielder is a
future captain for both club and country and will be a key member of the
England squad at next summer's World Cup finals in Brazil.
Left-wing: Adnan Januzaj |
Manchester United
 |
Januzaj signed a five-year deal with United last month (©GettyImages) |
Adnan Januzaj burst onto the
scene at the start of this season before signing a five-year deal to commit
himself to the reigning Premier League champions.
The Belgium-born winger oozes
class and, even though he does not turn 19 until February, he already looks
firmly at home in the Premier League.
Attacking-midfield: Erik
Lamela | Tottenham
 |
| Lamela has yet to show his real talent at Spurs (©GettyImages) |
Erik Lamela is currently
struggling to establish himself in the Tottenham first team after becoming
Spurs' record signing in the summer, but there's no doubt that the Argentina
international is the real deal.
The left-footed playmaker,
who often plays from the right flank, scored 15 goals for AS Roma in Serie A
last season - and hopefully we'll see the best of him in a Tottenham shirt
before too long.
Right-wing: Alex
Oxlade-Chamberlain | Arsenal
 |
| Oxlade-Chamberlain has been injured recently (©GettyImages) |
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain gets
in ahead of Manchester United's Wilfried Zaha, who has yet to play a single
minute of Premier League football, on the right-hand side of attack.
Injury has curtailed his
season so far, but the gifted 20-year-old England international will soon be
back with a bang.
Striker: Romelu Lukaku |
Chelsea (on loan at Everton)
 |
| Lukaku is impressing at Everton (©GettyImages) |
Romelu Lukaku, currently on
loan at Everton from Chelsea, is already an established Belgium international
and one of the best young strikers in world football.
He appears to have all the
required attributes to become Chelsea's first-choice striker, which he surely
will be from the start of next season.
How many of them are the real
deal? Have your say in the comments section below.
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