Connor Wickham – Ipswich

Only 17 years old, Wickham signed his first professional contract earlier this year and has quickly started fulfilling the potential in the Championship (11/10f QPR Outright)  many scouts and pundits had seen in him.

His height of 6ft 3in make him a powerful force in the air and is as strong as an ox, despite his young age, making him very hard to knock off the ball.

Manchester United have taken a special interest in Wickham, though they might get no dispensation from Old Trafford legend Roy Keane when making any enquiry about him.

Wickham became the youngest player to make a senior appearance for the club when he came on as a substitute against Doncaster Rovers in April at 16 years and 11 days, breaking Jason Dozzell’s record.

Wickham has made an impact at international level, scoring the winning goal for England in the UEFA European U17 Championship final.

He has already played 43 times for Ipswich, scoring four goals, and is valued at £10million by Keane, who has already rejected an £8m bid from Tottenham.

Jack Wilshere – Arsenal

Wilshere is a product of the Arsenal Academy who has quickly risen from playing youth football to being a valuable member of Arsene Wenger’s first team squad (9/2 to win 2010-11 Premier League title).

He was a star of Arsenal’s 2009 FA Youth Cup success, scoring in both the semi-final and final, but by the time those games came around he had already made his first team bow and impressed.

He was Arsenal’s youngest ever debutant at 16 years 256 days, beating Cesc Fabregas’ record, and six days later scored his first goal for the Gunners in the 6-0 Carling Cup win over Sheffield United.

Even before he had signed his first professional contract he had played in the Champions League, making his debut against Dynamo Kiev.

This season has been in many ways his breakthrough campaign, as he made his first start against Liverpool in August and has continued to see regular action. He was Arsenal’s Player of the Month for September and scored in the Champions League against Shakhtar Donetsk.

Adept at dribbling and with a powerful shot, 18-year-old Wilshere has made his England debut this season, coming on as a substitute against Hungary in August.

Danny Welbeck – Sunderland

Welbeck has ended the year well, endearing himself to the Sunderland fans with impressive performances including a goal to earn the 1-0 win over Bolton.

The 20-year-old is on loan at the Stadium of Light from Manchester United, his home-town team, who he joined as a junior in 2005.

He made his competitive bow for United in September 2008 in the 3-1 Carling Cup win over Middlesbrough, and his Premier League debut came two months later, as a substitute against Stoke City. He marked the occasion with a memorable 30-yard curling shot into the top corner as United won 5-0.

Welbeck can be used as a wideman or a striker, and has great pace allied to strength and ability with both feet.

He signed a new four-year contract with United last December, assuring him that he was very much part of Sir Alex Ferguson’s plans for the future despite the Red Devils’ boss then sending him out on loan to Preston.

Welbeck scored two in eight games for North End before returning early from his loan spell due to injury, and after he recovered Steve Bruce was quick to snap him up on a season-long loan.

He starred with a goal in the 3-0 away win at Chelsea, and bagged both Sunderland (9/2 Top Six Finish) goals in a 2-2 draw at home to Everton next time out.

He has made something of an international impact since making his debut for England Under-21 in February 2009, and bagged a brace in England’s 3-0 win over Lithuania in September.

Andy Carroll – Newcastle

Carroll is still only 21, but its well over four years since the Newcastle United faithful first took him to their hearts when he became the Magpies’ youngest player to appear in Europe, during a UEFA Cup tie against Palermo in November 2006.

Even at that age he had formidable presence, able to hold off defenders using his strength and pace, and experience has only added to his abilities.

He made his Premier League bow in February 2007, and after a six-month loan spell with Preston, he returned to St James’ Park determined to claim a regular starting spot.

Indeed, the club’s decision to offer him a new four-year contract was testament to the fact that they rated him highly, and after Newcastle’s relegation to the Championship he took his chance with both hands.

He set up a superb partnership with Peter Lovenkrands which accounted for more than half the club’s goals in 2010, and finished as the club’s top scorer with 19 goals in all competitions.

Carroll scored his first career hat-trick against Aston Villa in the Premier League in August, and captained Newcastle for the first time the next month against Manchester City (Carroll 9/1 to be Premier League top scorer).

His performances for Newcastle earned him a call-up for the England friendly against France in November, and England boss Fabio Capello has talked of wanting Carroll up front as Wayne Rooney’s partner in the future.

Marc Albrighton – Aston Villa

Not given a chance during Martin O’Neill’s time in charge at Villa Park, Albrighton has grabbed his opportunity with both hands since Gerrard Houllier took over.

He has excellent pace and dribbling ability, together with the vision to be able to pick out players who have given themselves a yard of space in the box.

An outstanding prospect for England, he is never afraid to take the responsibility of shooting if a chance presents itself.

Albrighton made his competitive debut in the UEFA Cup tie at CSKA Moscow in February 2009, but it has been this season when his star has risen – he made his first Premier League start against West Ham on August 14, setting up two goals.

He scored his first Villa (11/2 Top Six Finish) goal against Spurs in October, and was rewarded with a new contract offer for the next four years.

Albrighton has bounced back well after being out of the side following an appendix operation, and has now scored three goals in 16 games.

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