As teams continue to settle into a new intriguing decade, we take a look at five promising players who could be leading figures in English Football over the next decade.
From Marcus Rashford to Ellie Roebuck to Marcus Rashford, the future of English Football is looking bright, as both the Three Lions and Lionesses continue to rise under the expert management of Gareth Southgate and Phil Neville.
We’re therefore set for ten years of thrilling unpredictability as new players begin to emerge, eventually replacing stars like Harry Maguire, Jill Scott and Carly Telford when they retire.
We therefore have rounded up five top young talent who are set to be the biggest talking points this decade, including one top European star who pries their trade in England’s domestic leagues.
Jude Bellingham (Birmingham City)
Embed from Getty ImagesJude Bellingham is a 16-year-old midfield graduate from Birmingham City’s Academy who is already showing promising signs for the future, having become a first-team regular under Pep Clotet.
With three goals in 22 appearances, Bellingham has shown incredible awareness to get himself into the box whenever Birmingham are on the attack to get any chances which fall his way.
He however isn’t the typical central midfielder because he isn’t afraid to cross over into the flanks and take on defenders, in order to create one-move moves which often have turned into chances upon goal, of which a club who are interested in signing him are currently struggling to do with their midfielders.
It is therefore very little surprise to see Manchester United interested in signing Bellingham because Ole Gunnar Solskjaer needs someone like him to add fresh impotent to the Red Devils’ midfield if they’re to challenge for trophies again.
Bellingham however has an entire decade to reach his career peak given his tender age, so expect this young talent to be one of England’s leading men come 2030 if the right managers nurture him in the right manner.
Vivianne Miedema (Arsenal)
Embed from Getty ImagesAt just 23 years-old, Netherlands’ Vivianne Miedema has already established herself as one of football’s brightest superstars with 272 senior goals already scored across three clubs and country whilst helping Netherlands to runner-up spot at last summer’s World Cup.
To put her excellent scoring record into perspective, Miedema has scored more goals than the amount of individual goals by male superstars – Cristiano Ronaldo (117) and Lionel Messi (140) for club and country by the time that both also reached the age of 23.
We however must remember that Miedema is still young but if she continues to improve for both club and country, she could very well smash the all-time record for most goals scored for club and country by a single women player in coming years.
Miedema in fact has enjoyed so many stand-out moments and especially for Arsenal, but a double hat-trick against Bristol City in a 11-1 home win underlines just how deadly she can be when at her clinical best.
I therefore feel that we will be talking about Miedema for many years to come if she continues to grow into a world-class star, for not just Arsenal and her future clubs but Netherlands as well.
Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool)
Embed from Getty ImagesTrent Alexander-Arnold might only be 21 years-old but having stepped up to Liverpool’s senior team at the age of just 17 as part of their 2016 pre-season tour, this talented fullback has come on leaps and bounds in recent years.
Having initially been a winger during his youth days, Alexander-Arnold has demonstrated a rare ability to merge the typical winger qualities with that of the fullback to play a key role in launching attacks from within defence.
It therefore was no surprise to see him become the first defender to have produced the most assists in a single Premier League season, with 12 assists in 29 league appearances last season.
Alexander-Arnold is also one of the Reds’ traditional corner takers yet remains a real threat just as he is at right-back, with a brilliant dummy move as he set up Divock Origi’s winner as Liverpool snatched a comeback semi-final win over Barcelona last season.
His creativity is another top aspect of this young fullback because he was a key figure in the Reds’ Boxing Day battering of Leicester, producing one goal, two assists and won a penalty which James Milner converted just days after winning the Club World Cup in Qatar.
I therefore can see Alexander-Arnold becoming one of the greatest fullbacks of all-time if he continues his development, whilst continuing to be nurtured properly by both club and country.
Ellie Roebuck (Manchester City)
Embed from Getty ImagesEllie Roebuck might only be 20 years-old but in just two and a half seasons, she has grown into one of England’s most promising future no.1 goalkeepers.
Having made her unexpected professional bow for Man City away at Chelsea in February 2018 as a substitute after Karen Bardsley suffered an injury, Roebuck has since produced top performances to establish herself as City’s first choice goalkeeper.
One particular aspect of Roebuck’s play has been her shot stopping skills because if compare her appearance county to goals conceded, there is minuscule difference with just 13 conceded goals in 15 appearances last season.
Opportunities in the England squad however are currently tougher to come by as the squad evolves with Phil Neville currently experimenting with youth, with just two starts and one substitute appearance in the last year.
Roebuck either way looks destined to be one of the country’s best goalkeepers if she continues to raise her game, especially with little competition for the goalie position in the Lionesses once Bardsley and Carly Telford retire.
Marcus Rashford (Manchester United)
Embed from Getty ImagesIf there is one positive from Louis van Gaal’s poorly received reign at Manchester United, you have to look no further than Marcus Rashford who has emerged as one of the Red Devils’ most talented youngsters in years.
After scoring eight goals in 18 appearances across three different competitions in his debut 2015-16 campaign, Rashford slowly established himself as a first-choice starter in the striker or winger positions with his consistent performances
Rashford also possesses that key quality in a top striker in not suffering too many injuries, because those sort of players create and score chances for their teams when other key players are absent and can be quite telling between a best and average team. when it comes to goals.
There is however one aspect that Rashford needs to develop in that he seems to fail to turn up for England in those must win matches at major tournaments, with exception of the 2019 UEFA Nations League semi which they eventually lost 3-1 to the Netherlands after initially leading through Rashford’s opener.
His nurturing onto the international stage however has been excellently managed with not many starts in major tournaments, which should stand him well in the long run if he can establish himself as a regular starter for the Three Lions.
These next few seasons therefore will be a crucial period of development if Rashford is to fulfil his potential in his peak years, of which he will if he continues to improve in the manner that he is currently doing.
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