Wigan Athletic, Sunderland, West Ham United, Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea stars feature in our rundown of the Premier League’s top talent ready to make their mark.
5. Victor Moses – Wigan
For the seasons prior to 2011/12, Nigerian international, Moses, had been a stop start performer, often promising a blazing inferno where there was only ever a matchstick flame.
However, coming off the back of his most impressive term in the Premier League in which he netted six and provided six assists, he appears to be steadily translating that potential into results.
His most impressive displays came at the expense of three of the top eight teams: Newcastle United – where he scored two goals in a 4-0 drubbing – and victories both away to Arsenal and Liverpool.
Young, exciting and tenacious, he was Wigan’s outstanding player for much of the season. Will he be able to replicate that form for The Latics or, if speculation is to be believed, another team in the coming season?
4. James McClean – Sunderland
Having not long been on the books at the Stadium of Light, McClean was eventually handed an opportunity in the first team by new boss, Martin O’Neill. To repay the Irishman, the 23 year old wide man has been scintillating at times.
At 6ft, he is a rangy strider in the mould of Spurs’ Gareth Bale, yielding a similar wand of a left foot too.
Still, he had a fairly modest goals and assists return in his first senior season but, without a doubt, he will cause defences problems and remain a focal point in Sunderland’s attack for years to come.
3. Ricardo Vaz Te – West Ham United
Still only 25, it already feels as if this forward marauder has been around English football for decades yet he has rarely shone. Last season he put paid to that statement in emphatic fashion scoring 24 goals in all competitions.
What began as great form for Barnsley continued, transforming into even better statistics for newly promoted, West Ham. Now he will be hoping that this rich vein – coupled with his previous Premier League experience with Bolton Wanderers – helps him to adjust to the rigours of the top division once again.
Vaz Te will undoubtedly be a player to watch as his trickiness, anywhere across an advanced three, will mean that defenders will have to keep their wits about them.
2. Gylfi Sigurdsson – Tottenham Hotspur
It is no wonder that a host of teams were linked with the Icelander having been the surprise package in the league last season.
His imposing physical presence and ability to score goals from the midfield – goals of all kinds – earned him a lucrative move to Spurs where he is touted to be the direct replacement for the outgoing, Luka Modric.
The 22 year old has converted on seven occasions and set up another five in just 18 matches for Swansea City, not to mention he has already gotten off the mark for his new club so expectations are already extremely high.
1. Eden Hazard – Chelsea
Hazard is easily one of the most exciting talents to grace these shores since Cristiano Ronaldo.
The young whizz kid is already a world beater : he has hit double figures for assists in each of the last three campaigns in Ligue 1, has bags of European experience and, last year, he tallied unbelievable figures with no fewer than 20 goals (9 of which were penalties) and 22 assists in 38 league appearances.
Now a Chelsea player, Hazard is destined to achieve big things provided he remains grounded. The skilful and intelligent forward will form a formidable alliance with the likes of Mata and Torres, supplying another welcome boost of creativity to the often idealess Chelsea strikeforce.
image: © Ben Sutherland
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