Michael Kayode, Kobbie Mainoo, Lewis Hall & Jaydee Canvotplaceholder image
Michael Kayode, Kobbie Mainoo, Lewis Hall & Jaydee Canvot | Getty Images/Iconic Media
Ranking the best young players in the Premier League right now - with Newcastle and Manchester United stars among this week’s risers.
Every week, our journalists gather together in an attempt to answer a challenging question – just who is the best young player in the Premier League right now? The result is a weekly Top 10 of the most in-form Under-21s in the top flight: The Wonderkid Power Rankings.
Last week, the supremely consistent Mateus Fernandes reclaimed top spot from Manchester City’s Nico O’Reilly, but can the Portuguese midfielder cling on to first place, or will one of the chasing pack dethrone the West Ham star?
Two players drop out of this week’s Top 10: Tottenham Hotspur’s Archie Gray had a tricky week, while Alejandro Garncho’s brief burst of form in the final third proved to be a flash in the pan. That leaves space for two returning starlets, although we should note that as these rankings are based on form over weeks rather than one game (or one moment), there is no room for Arsenal’s Max Dowman, even though he broke the record for the Premier League’s youngest goalscorer, or for Liverpool’s lively Rio Ngumoha. Both are firmly on our radar going forward. Don’t think we forgot them.
10. Yankuba Minteh – Brighton & Hove Albion (re-entry)
The Gambian winger lost his place in the Seagulls’ starting line-up over the winter and has largely been restricted to cameo appearances since, but was back in the XI after an energetic 45 minutes against Arsenal, and back to his very best to win the game against Sunderland. Not only did he score the decisive if rather jammy goal, slicing a cross in at the near post from an improbable angle, but he created the single best chance of the game with a wicked cross in from the left with Jack Hinshelwood should surely have buried from close quarters. Signs of life at last from a player who had lost his way a little bit.
9. El Hadji Malick Diouf – West Ham United (⬇️1)
The Senegalese wing-back had a mixed game against Manchester City, with a lot of strong defensive work, especially in one-on-one situations (he forced six turnovers and won four of his five ground duels), but he was also rather slipshod in possession, misplacing too many passes and ultimately giving the ball back to Pep Guardiola’s side on no fewer than 19 occasions. Overall, though, his recent form has been solid enough to keep him clinging on to a place in our Top 10.
8. Rayan – AFC Bournemouth (⬇️1)
Another player who’s hanging on a little bit. The Brazilian winger exploded into the Premier League with a flurry of goals but has now gone four matches without a significant contribution in the final third – in the 0-0 draw with Burnley, he failed to find a team-mate with any of his five crosses and was restricted to a single, rather optimistic shot on goal from outside the box which was blocked. Carry on like this, and a Dowman or an Ngumoha could easily take one of these places next week.
7. Michael Kayode – Brentford (re-entry)
Kayode, usually a player who lives in the upper echelons of these rankings, lost his place recently after a dicey and error-strewn run of form but ultimately spends just a week out of the Top 10. The Italian scored his first goal for Brentford against Wolves on Monday evening with a fine header, and did plenty of good work at the back, too, recovering possession on seven occasions and putting himself in position to make six clearances. A good week for a player with boundless potential at both ends of the pitch.
6. Álex Jiménez – AFC Bournemouth (⬇️2)
The Spaniard has been on excellent form of late, so it was somewhat surprising to see him dropped to the bench against Burnley – but he came on with around 30 minutes left and put in a solid (if shortened) display at the back, making several useful defensive contributions even if he didn’t find time to make anything happen going forward on this occasion.
5. Nico O’Reilly – Manchester City (⬇️3)
In the fortnight since we made O’Reilly our number one for the very first time, just about everything that could go wrong has. Having struggled to get on the ball for most of the crushing Champions League defeat to Real Madrid, the 20-year-old missed a fine chance to keep his side in a lopsided tie, and was even more profligate in the draw with West Ham, missing a series of close-range opportunities. A sudden run of rough form for a very fine player who is still finding his feet in a more attacking role.
4. Jaydee Canvot – Crystal Palace (⬆️2)
What a find Canvot has been for Palace, who barely miss Marc Guéhi thanks to the young Frenchman’s form. He was absolutely imperious against Leeds this weekend, making a massive 13 clearances, blocking two goalbound shots and dominating in the air, and was rock solid in the Europa Conference League against AEK Larnaca too. All told, he made every single tackle he attempted this week and let practically nothing get past him. Another impressive find for the Eagles.
3. Mateus Fernandes – West Ham United (⬇️1)
It’s remarkably rare for us to write about a bad game for Fernandes, but his performance against Manchester City qualifies and he loses top spot as a result. The 21-year-old struggled in defence, especially – he was beaten on the run four times, conceded five fouls, and won just four of his 13 one-on-one duels. Fernandes has been extraordinarily consistent since the autumn, but he hit a bum note this weekend even as his team pulled off an impressive result.
2. Kobbie Mainoo – Manchester United (⬆️1)
A typically Kobbiesque match for the midfielder against Aston Villa this weekend, who was in all-action mode, working hard off the ball to hassle opposing players and win the ball back and knocking passes around with ease and elegance. No goals, assists or highlight reel moments, but lots of hard graft and another rock solid game to add to his collection since Michael Carrick took charge. An England recall may well be in the offing.
1. Lewis Hall – Newcastle United (⬆️3)
Speaking of talented youngsters likely to be in Thomas Tuchel’s thoughts over the coming days, Hall made his case for a Three Lions place with two strong performances against Barcelona and Chelsea over the past week. Having kept Lamine Yamal quiet for most of the Champions League tie at St. James’ Park, he was excellent at the back again at Stamford Bridge, and looked dangerous going forward in both matches – a superb through ball against Barcelona was perhaps the best of several dangerous passes and crosses. This was Hall at his all-round best, just in time for an international break, and he rightly takes top spot in our rankings for the third time in his young career.
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