Rashford, Iwobi and Iheanacho are the Premier League’s brightest starlets after establishing themselves last season and replicating that form this term.
Year upon year English football witness the break-through of a copious amount of young talent, but many of those young stars seem to fizzle out.
Many precocious starlets seem to be given too much too early on in their fledging careers. With fame comes money and the pitfalls that result from fame are omniscient; adulation has consumed many talents.
There is always a new young talent demonstrating vast skills at an early age. The likes of Gael Kakuta, Chris Eagles, Federico Macheda and Ravel Morrison…who? exactly!
For every Raheem Sterling, there is a Sanchez Watt.
However, not all prodigious talents are young pretenders. Some are actually the real deal. We take a look at some of those setting English football alight…
Marcus Rashford (Manchester United)
Rashford has been a revelation since graduating from United’s fabled academy, he was fast-tracked into the first team by Louis van Gaal and never looked back. He has enjoyed a whirlwind seven months since his debut against Midtjylland, in which he scored a brace to inspire United to a 5-1 victory- becoming the club’s youngest scorer in European competition at 18 years and 117 days.
Rashford has been on a meteoric journey from near obscurity to the forefront of the first team at Old Trafford. The 18-year-old scored twice on his Premier League debut against Arsenal and found the net on both his England Under-21 and senior debuts.
The 18-year-old striker scored eight goals in all competitions for the Red Devils last term, and has continued that fine form with four in nine this campaign. Teenage kicks do not seem to hold the forward back, and he is considered England’s next young hope.
Alex Iwobi (Arsenal)
Sporting prowess runs in Iwobi’s genes. His uncle is Jay-Jay Okocha, the Premier League legend known for his silky skills.
Since rising through the ranks at the heralded Hale End academy Alex Iwobi has racked up 28 first-team appearances. His breakthrough moment came at Sheffield Wednesday last year and he has not looked back since, with two goals scored in his first two Premier League starts against Everton and Watford.
The 20-year-old has firmly cemented himself in Arsene Wenger’s squad and his rapid rise seems to hold no bounds. The Nigerian international has three assists this season in seven outings. Six starts this campaign is proof of his ascendancy, and Iwobi was also named Arsenal’s man-of-the-match after the side’s 3-0 victory over Chelsea, in a display that brought widespread plaudits.
Kelechi Iheanacho (Manchester City)
Coming through City’s youth set-up, Kelechi Iheanacho has come to establish himself firmly in the plans of Pep Guardiola. Since bursting onto the scene last term he has grasped all opportunities afforded to him with both hands and has displayed an instinctive eye for goal, becoming only the 16th teenager to net 10 top-flight goals, and with only 14 shots on target.
In his breakthrough season the Nigerian impressed with lightning pace, a willingness to make runs and clinical finishing. And with eight goals Iheanacho introduced himself to the City faithful, the first time the 20-year-old showed his predatory instincts came in a game two minutes after being subbed on against Crystal Palace to claim a late winner.
The striker has consistently performed when called upon and when first-choice striker Sergio Aguero was suspended for the Manchester derby the boy wonder was given the call-up by manager Guardiola. Tthat faith was repaid with a first-half goal to practically kill the tie. No wonder many are quick to sing his praises.
And the forward has also been nominated for the prestigious 2016 Golden Boy award alongside the likes of Rashford and Iwobi, so we will wait and see who takes the grand prize home.
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