Originally Posted by
samhaydenjr
So I thought I'd make a list of players to be watched out for in pre-season. Almost all are young players on the fringes of their respective first team squads but I'm also oprn to more established players looking to make an impact:
Premier League:
- Aston Villa: Scott Hogan - has struggled for game time but Mick seems to have indicated that he's an option if he can play more
- Bournemouth: Mark Travers - two late games last season hopefully indicates he has a chance of being back-up keeper, at least. Perhaps he may get a shot at proving himself in the domestic cups
- Brighton: Aaron Connolly and Jayson Molumby - both have seen EFL Cup and EFL Trophy action in the last couple of seasons and impressed in the Toulon tournament so should be knocking on the door of the first team
- Burnley: Jimmy Dunne - two seasons of loans at progressively higher levels, amassing over 70 first-team appearances - let's see if he's ready to step up a level
- Crystal Palace: Kian Flanagan - U23 player of the season at the club
- Liverpool: Caoimhin Kelleher - if Mignolet goes, could become main back-up 'keeper, like Travers
- Norwich City: Adam Idah - 12 goals in 19 appearances for the U23s (only turned 18 in February) - top scorer in his division. Also Conor Masterson, if the rumours of Norwich's interest pans out
- Southampton: Michael Obafemi - can he build on last season's breakthrough. A few others in their academy but Will Smallbone seems to be the one making most progress
- Spurs: rumours abound that Troy Parrott will start to see first-team action in the upcoming season
- West Ham: Can Josh Cullen build on his success at Charlton to break through or will it be another loan spell or a transfer out? Maybe Conor Coventry, but might still be too early
- Wolves: Connor Ronan - decent loan spell in Slovakia and good Toulon tournament will hopefully boost his stock and confidence
The Championship
- Derby: Jason Knight - on the bench for the play-off final last season
- Millwall: Jonathan Afolabi - if he impressed enough on trial
- QPR: Olamide Shodipo - after falling out of favour, an unsuccessful loan and some injuries, returned to first-team action late in the season
- Reading: Josh Barrett - as with Shodipo, got back in the first team late in the season
- Stoke: Nathan Collins - Also a late season breakthrough, and now on Man Utd's radar, although another season at Stoke is probably a better option
- West Brom: Dara O'Shea - good loan spell at Exeter may put him in the frame at his home club
SPL
- Celtic: Armstrong Okoflex - if he chooses us; Luca Connell - if he ends up with them
- Hearts: Aidan Keena - scoring regularly on loan, in reserves, with a Scottish Cup goal also
Serie A
- Inter: Ryan Nolan - a couple of years in their youth set-up (making captain in their recent Cup Final) has hopefully prepared him to be a high-level defender
So that's 22 players, essentially a full squad. If even five or six break through in this pre-season, it will bode well for the short-term future. Is there anybody you lads think should be added?
Bookmarks