Who would feature in a Premier League young team of the season?
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Version 0 of 1. The international break tends to encourage debate about the state of English football and this past week has been no different. FA chairman Greg Dyke’s proposal to amend the homegrown player rules is intended to increase the number of English players in the Premier League and in turn help the national team. There are far fewer homegrown players in England’s top-flight than in Europe’s other major leagues and the concern is that even the young players in the Premier League have been recruited from abroad. A look at our young team of the season thus far – selected based on the ratings of players under the age of 23 who have made at least 10 league appearances – shows as much. Only four of the team are English and the remaining seven players were brought to their clubs after their 16th birthdays. However, in light of Alan Shearer’s recent claim that the forwards at Roy Hodgson’s disposal are the strongest England has had to offer for 20 years, the XI also hints that there is reason for optimism in attacking positions. Thibaut Courtois, Chelsea, 6.82 As expected, Thibaut Courtois returned to Chelsea as José Mourinho’s first choice goalkeeper this season and, as expected, the 22-year old has put in a number of commanding displays. Only Lukasz Fabianski and Brad Guzan – both of whom have made more appearances – have successfully claimed more high balls in the box this season (58), with Courtois’ rating of 6.82 up on last season’s 6.73 at Atlético Madrid. Héctor Bellerín, Arsenal, 7.21 When Arsenal began the season with only six senior defenders, many felt they would be doomed. Long-term injuries to summer signing Mathieu Debuchy looked likely to derail their season before it had really begun but the performances of 20-year old Héctor Bellerín – now firmly ahead of Calum Chambers in the pecking order – have proven more than adequate. The former Barcelona youth team player has earned a rating of 7.21, with 2.2 tackles and interceptions per game, as well as 1.4 dribbles per game. Emre Can, Liverpool, 7.18 Signed for his ability to play in central midfield as well as left-back, Emre Can’s versatility has been invaluable to Brendan Rodgers. Having been on the fringes at the start of the campaign, a switch to a back three has seen both Liverpool and Can flourish in recent months. As a centre-back he can carry the ball out of defence effectively, averaging 1.2 dribbles per game, while showing his strength to win 2.2 tackles per game for a rating of 7.18. Jores Okore, Aston Villa, 7.15 Like the rest of this defence, Jores Okore began the season out of the team but has profited from injuries and has not looked back since. The Dane has formed an effective and unlikely partnership with Ciaran Clark in the absence of Ron Vlaar and the fact that the Villa captain’s contract expires in the summer is becoming less of an issue. Having missed the entirety of what should have been a debut season at Villa Park with a knee ligament injury, Okore has bounced back to record figures of 2.9 interceptions per game and an 86.7% pass accuracy, earning him a rating of 7.15. Massadio Haidara, Newcastle, 6.92 After a series of injuries in his early career at Newcastle, Massadio Haidara has finally been able to show the sort of promise that earned him a move to England from Nancy in 2013. The departure of Davide Santon and an injury to Paul Dummett have allowed the 22-year-old a run in the team and it looks as if he could make the left-back place his own. His 2.3 interceptions and 1.1 dribbles per game have earned him a rating of 6.92 thus far. Sadio Mané, Southampton, 7.07 The third and final summer signing in the XI is Southampton’s Sadio Mané, who has shown flashes of brilliance during his time on the south coast. The Senegal international has scored six goals this season, including important strikes against Chelsea and Arsenal, along with match-winners against QPR and Crystal Palace since returning from the Africa Cup of Nations. Notable figures of 2.2 shots, 1.5 key passes and 1.8 dribbles per game have helped the winger to a 7.07 rating. Philippe Coutinho, Liverpool, 7.32 Having had a relatively slow start to the season, the uprise in form of Philippe Coutinho this season has had a direct correlation with that of Liverpool as a whole, and that doesn’t seem likely to have been a coincidence. At his best the Brazilian can turn matches on his own, with decisive goals against QPR, Arsenal and Manchester City this season, and while he would have hoped to have improved on his tallies of four goals and four assists, he’s been a real menace since the turn of the year, seeing his average number of shots and dribbles per game rise to 2.5 and 2.9 respectively. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Arsenal, 7.20 It has been a familiar story for Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, who picked up an injury just as he was beginning to put his stamp on the side. The England international was in sparkling form before his most recent injury and his running with the ball has been scintillating at times. Only Jefferson Montero has completed a dribble more often this season (every 17.9 minutes), with the 21-year-old also averaging 1.6 key passes per game for a rating of 7.20. Sammy Ameobi, Newcastle, 7.13 His breakthrough season at Newcastle has been some time coming but Sammy Ameobi is beginning to fulfil his potential. The gangly wide man has two goals and two assists to his name but his work rate has impressed fans at St James’ Park the most, with some impressive statistics at both ends of the pitch. Ameobi’s height provides an outlet – he has won 2.2 aerial duels per game. His 2.1 tackles and two dribbles per game have helped the academy graduate to a rating of 7.13 this season. Harry Kane, Tottenham, 7.48 The bookies out-and-out favourite to scoop the PFA’s young player of the year award, Harry Kane’s fairytale season was in focus yet again last week as he scored within 80 seconds of his senior international debut. The 21-year-old has now scored 12 goals in his last 12 appearances, with a league tally of 19 enough to share the lead in the race for the Golden Boot with Diego Costa. With a team-high rating of 7.43, Kane’s story is one that Greg Dyke is hoping will be repeated if his homegrown rule changes are applied. He’s the poster boy for the campaign to give the youth of English football a chance. Raheem Sterling, Liverpool, 7.36 While Kane is currently seen as the great young hope for the international side, it’s worth remembering that at just 20 years of age Raheem Sterling is almost 18 months younger than the Spurs forward. His second half display against Lithuania on Friday showed Sterling at his electric best and his versatility is improving all the time, having started nine games for Liverpool at centre-forward this season. His six goals and seven assists have helped to keep them in the Champions League hunt, while totals of 62 key passes and 83 dribbles each rank among the Premier League’s top 10 players. All statistics courtesy of WhoScored.com, where you can find more stats, including live in-game data and unique player and team ratings. 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