It is finally here! After months of struggling with nothing to do on a Saturday afternoon, the English football season is back, to the delight of fans all around the country.
Last season saw a number of young stars impress including the likes of Tyrone Mings, Patrick Bamford and Nathan Redmond.
All three will be testing their abilities in the top flight next season playing for Bournemouth, Crystal Palace and Norwich respectively.
Premier League sides will no doubt be keeping an eye out throughout the season for any more emerging stars that can help improve their current sides.
So here are five talented potential stars to keep an eye out for in the coming campaign…
Will Hughes – Derby County
An obvious candidate, the Derby midfielder has been one of the best young players in the Championship since he broke into the first team at the age of just 16.
He has already been linked with every Premier League side under the sun and when you watch him play you will understand why.
Looking at him you wouldn’t expect the midfielder to be the type of player he is.
Hughes has a remarkable left foot, he has the quality and class of someone many years older than him, can cut apart a defence with one pass, run at them with the ball or even shoot from all angles – the youngster has it all.
His attitude and work rate are also impressive attributes of his game and he is one of the most technically gifted English midfielders in the game at the moment.
He has been compared to a young Steven Gerrard and whilst he is not as likely to play a 60 yard long ball directly to a team mate, he does have it in his locker.
At the age of just 20, Hughes has a massive future ahead of him and you can guarantee it won’t be long before he is in the Premier League.
Benik Afobe – Wolves
The young striker has been a major source of goals whereever he has been. Last season he finished the season as the top scorer in the whole country, after banging 32 goals during his time with MK Dons and Wolves.
The youngster is a graduate of the Arsenal youth set-up, one of the finest academies in England, and would have learnt from some of the best coaches in the game.
Afobe brings bags of pace to the Wolves attack as well as the strength and aerial ability to play as a target man when required, holding the ball up and bringing team mates into play.
Wolves fans will be excited to see what the partnership of Afobe and Nouha Dicko can achieve with a full season together.
It won’t take long for the player to reach the Premier League, and he may even do it this season with the Midlands club.
Lasse Vigen Christensen – Fulham
The 20-year-old midfielder is a wonderful young talent and has worked himself firmly into the first team squad at Fulham.
Christensen is good all round midfielder and is comfortable on the ball, as well as trying to regain it off the opposition. His engine and determination are notable characteristics of his play.
Perhaps his most telling asset is the speed in at which he can turn defence into attack. He’s a similar to Fabian Delph and was heavily linked with a move to Aston Villa earlier in the summer.
With more time in the starting line-up at Craven Cottage expected, the player will only continue to improve. The Dane has masses of potential and is certainly someone to look out for.
Lewis Cook – Leeds United
Another central midfielder, Cook has become a very highly rated talent during his time at Elland Road.
Like Christensen at Fulham, comparisons to Fabian Delph have been made, with the player possessing important qualities of a box-to-box midfielder.
Cook’s main assets are his confidence and stance while on the ball , despite not possessing scintillating pace, he is still comfortable with dribbling up-field and taking on defenders.
Despite those strengths, the midfielder is also comfortable with the defensive side of midfield, happy in possession of the ball and never one to shy away from a tackle.
Cook has drawn interest from a number of top Premier League sides and provided he continues regular first team football to aid his development, he can become a future star for club and country.
Demarai Gray – Birmingham City
The talented young winger is one of the hottest prospects in English football, and is fast drawing attention from a host of Elite Premier League sides.
Gray is a wonderful talent with the ability to embarrass his opponents. The 18-year-old has the technique to glide past full-backs with good acceleration and close control.
One of his best attributes, though, is his intelligence on and off the ball. Manager Gary Rowett describes him as having a young head on old shoulders.
He has drawn lots of comparisons to Raheem Sterling and Nathan Redmond in the past. Gray is predominantly a winger but he is also comfortable up front, or playing just off the striker.
Gray is at the perfect place to continue his development, and Rowett will have no worries about playing the youngster on a regular basis, which would allow Gray to continue to shine and improve his game.