Tottenham Hotspur and Sunderland both have representatives amongst the top six, as well as Manchester City, Manchester United and Arsenal.
The results from HITC Sport’s best young Premier League player of 2016 poll are in, but which starlet was deemed to have enjoyed the best calendar year? Here is the top six…
6. Raheem Sterling (Manchester City)
When Raheem Sterling moved to Manchester City, few expected him to justify the fee that was needed to take him from Liverpool. However, the winger shone during 2016. His five goals and three assists in the top flight this season means that he is already on course to comfortably better his total of six goals and two assists from the entire 2015/16 campaign.
5. Anthony Martial (Manchester United)
Manchester United’s Anthony Martial
The Frenchman scored nine times in the Premier League during 2016, which is an impressive number given that he has often been deployed in a wider role following his move to Manchester United.
4. Marcus Rashford (Manchester United)
2016 was an incredible year for Marcus Rashford. He burst onto the scene in February and swiftly scored a crucial brace in the 3-2 win over Arsenal on his Premier League debut before scoring the only goal in the Manchester derby in March. He scored eight times in the top flight during the calendar year.
3. Dele Alli (Tottenham Hotspur)
Tottenham’s Dele Alli
The 20-year-old had already enjoyed a rapid rise and become a key part of the Tottenham first-team by the time 2016 arrived. His performances so nearly helped Spurs push Leicester right to the wire in the title race. And he has enjoyed a brilliant run of form during the first half of this season with six league goals and one assist coming already.
2. Hector Bellerin (Arsenal)
The Arsenal right-back is arguably one of the most exciting defenders in the Premier League currently. His speed allows him to not only contend with the best attacking players the league has to offer, but also gives him the ability to contribute going forward.
1. Jordan Pickford (Sunderland)
Sunderland’s Jordan Pickford
The Sunderland goalkeeper’s form has arguably been one of the main reasons that the Black Cats go into 2017 with a genuine chance of staying up. He has made several showreels worth of match-saving stops and Sunderland’s biggest challenge for the January transfer window would have been keeping him at the Stadium of Light if it were not for an injury that will put him out of action for several weeks.
Expect Sunderland’s Pickford show to continue as soon as he is available once again.
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