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With a quiet transfer market and the prospect of a seven-strong bench, next season could well be the campaign for the youngsters. We pick out ten whipper-snappers that could make an impact...
Jack Wilshere, 16, Arsenal
Everyone gets terrifically excited when an Englishman with a left-foot shows up (see Downing, Stewart), but early reports suggest this lad could be the real thing. A winger who can play up front, Wilshere may be legally unable to buy cigarettes (you have to be 18 now apparently. No, us neither) but he's been impressing all and sundry with his goalscoring exploits in the reserves, and bagged a good few for Arsenal in pre-season. It may sound insignificant, but his elevation from squad number 55 to 19 this week shows Wilshere will be competing with the likes of Carlos Vela for a spot in the Gunners' first team, if only perhaps for the Carling Cup jollies.
Lukas Fabianski, 23, Arsenal
Purchased last summer, Fabianski was restricted to a handful of appearances last term, and although he was the man between the sticks in the humiliating 5-1 spanking at the hands of Spurs, the Pole showed some promise. More significantly, Fabianski's showing in the friendly against Juventus at the weekend prompted Arsene Wenger to tell the gents of the press that he was the reason Jens Lehmann has not been directly replaced.
Rafael da Silva, 18, Manchester United
Signed along with brother and fellow full-back Fabio, Rafael da Silva seemed to make an impression on Alex Ferguson in Monday night's pre-season game against Peterbrough, playing the whole 90 minutes and earning the following words of praise from old Purple Nose: "The young players were fantastic and young Rafael the right-back was a sensation for me." And with Gary Neville not too far away from retirement, things are looking up for the young Brazilian.
David Ngog, 19, Liverpool
While his goalscoring record (one in 19 games for PSG) might not be too impressive, Ngog showed some promise in netting one of Liverpool's four against Rangers at the weekend. The Frenchman is tall and powerful, making him perhaps a more obvious candidate to fill in for Fernando Torres, should Rafa Benitez go for the lone striker, especially with Andriy Voronin being both a bit rubbish and on the way out.
Jack Rodwell, 17, Everton
England Under-16 captain Rodwell has already made a couple of appearances for Everton, and the club made quite a fanfare of him signing a professional contract in March. What really bodes well for his prospects this season is both his versatility (he can play at the back and in midfield) and Everton's chronic lack of depth, something David Moyes is getting increasingly worked up about. A mention too for Jose Baxter, a 16-year-old striker causing murmurs after a terrific strike against Forest in pre-season.
James Tomkins, 19, West Ham
A tall centre-half, more than comfortable on the ball, Tomkins already has half-a-dozen first team appearances under his belt at Upton Park. Should he kick on this season, Tomkins could establish himself in Alan Curbishley's starting XI given - Matt Upson aside - the distinctly average nature of his competition.
Freddie Sears, 18, West Ham
By the time Sears made his goal-scoring debut for the first team last season, the young striker had already bagged 25 in 24 for West Ham's reserves. While his prominence at the back end of last season had a lot to do with the injury crisis at Upton Park, Sears will be confident of getting a few more games given only the brittle Dean Ashton and Craig Bellamy, and the rubbish Carlton Cole, stand in his way.
Chris Gunter, 19, Spurs
Gunter was one of four defenders signed by Juande Ramos in January, and after the sale of Pascal Chimbonda the Welsh full-back has moved a step up in the White Hart Lane pecking order. Given that Spurs are likely to be competing reasonably fiercely on four fronts in the coming campaign, Gunter's ability to play on both the right and left could mean he gets a good few matches.
Jamie O'Hara, 21, Spurs
He's not a new name, having made 17 appearances last season, but O'Hara could play a crucial role for Spurs in the coming months. Their summer purchases have heavily favoured the more skilful, attacking side of the Spurs team, so O'Hara's energy and tough-tackling might prove a useful foil for the likes of Modric, Bentley and Dos Santos.
Ched Evans, 19, Manchester City
Mark Hughes is apparently in the market for another striker before the season starts, but should young Welshman Evans continue the sort of form he showed while on loan at Norwich last season, Hughes may be able to put the chequebook away. Evans scored ten goals for City, but perhaps more impressive was the quality of the strikes - nearly all of them pearlers. Evans was rewarded with a new three-year contract in July, not something that a manager like Hughes hands out to chumps.
Nick Miller
Who is the one player from you club, not already mentioned above, that we should watch out for next season?
Jack Wilshere, 16, Arsenal
Everyone gets terrifically excited when an Englishman with a left-foot shows up (see Downing, Stewart), but early reports suggest this lad could be the real thing. A winger who can play up front, Wilshere may be legally unable to buy cigarettes (you have to be 18 now apparently. No, us neither) but he's been impressing all and sundry with his goalscoring exploits in the reserves, and bagged a good few for Arsenal in pre-season. It may sound insignificant, but his elevation from squad number 55 to 19 this week shows Wilshere will be competing with the likes of Carlos Vela for a spot in the Gunners' first team, if only perhaps for the Carling Cup jollies.
Lukas Fabianski, 23, Arsenal
Purchased last summer, Fabianski was restricted to a handful of appearances last term, and although he was the man between the sticks in the humiliating 5-1 spanking at the hands of Spurs, the Pole showed some promise. More significantly, Fabianski's showing in the friendly against Juventus at the weekend prompted Arsene Wenger to tell the gents of the press that he was the reason Jens Lehmann has not been directly replaced.
Rafael da Silva, 18, Manchester United
Signed along with brother and fellow full-back Fabio, Rafael da Silva seemed to make an impression on Alex Ferguson in Monday night's pre-season game against Peterbrough, playing the whole 90 minutes and earning the following words of praise from old Purple Nose: "The young players were fantastic and young Rafael the right-back was a sensation for me." And with Gary Neville not too far away from retirement, things are looking up for the young Brazilian.
David Ngog, 19, Liverpool
While his goalscoring record (one in 19 games for PSG) might not be too impressive, Ngog showed some promise in netting one of Liverpool's four against Rangers at the weekend. The Frenchman is tall and powerful, making him perhaps a more obvious candidate to fill in for Fernando Torres, should Rafa Benitez go for the lone striker, especially with Andriy Voronin being both a bit rubbish and on the way out.
Jack Rodwell, 17, Everton
England Under-16 captain Rodwell has already made a couple of appearances for Everton, and the club made quite a fanfare of him signing a professional contract in March. What really bodes well for his prospects this season is both his versatility (he can play at the back and in midfield) and Everton's chronic lack of depth, something David Moyes is getting increasingly worked up about. A mention too for Jose Baxter, a 16-year-old striker causing murmurs after a terrific strike against Forest in pre-season.
James Tomkins, 19, West Ham
A tall centre-half, more than comfortable on the ball, Tomkins already has half-a-dozen first team appearances under his belt at Upton Park. Should he kick on this season, Tomkins could establish himself in Alan Curbishley's starting XI given - Matt Upson aside - the distinctly average nature of his competition.
Freddie Sears, 18, West Ham
By the time Sears made his goal-scoring debut for the first team last season, the young striker had already bagged 25 in 24 for West Ham's reserves. While his prominence at the back end of last season had a lot to do with the injury crisis at Upton Park, Sears will be confident of getting a few more games given only the brittle Dean Ashton and Craig Bellamy, and the rubbish Carlton Cole, stand in his way.
Chris Gunter, 19, Spurs
Gunter was one of four defenders signed by Juande Ramos in January, and after the sale of Pascal Chimbonda the Welsh full-back has moved a step up in the White Hart Lane pecking order. Given that Spurs are likely to be competing reasonably fiercely on four fronts in the coming campaign, Gunter's ability to play on both the right and left could mean he gets a good few matches.
Jamie O'Hara, 21, Spurs
He's not a new name, having made 17 appearances last season, but O'Hara could play a crucial role for Spurs in the coming months. Their summer purchases have heavily favoured the more skilful, attacking side of the Spurs team, so O'Hara's energy and tough-tackling might prove a useful foil for the likes of Modric, Bentley and Dos Santos.
Ched Evans, 19, Manchester City
Mark Hughes is apparently in the market for another striker before the season starts, but should young Welshman Evans continue the sort of form he showed while on loan at Norwich last season, Hughes may be able to put the chequebook away. Evans scored ten goals for City, but perhaps more impressive was the quality of the strikes - nearly all of them pearlers. Evans was rewarded with a new three-year contract in July, not something that a manager like Hughes hands out to chumps.
Nick Miller
Who is the one player from you club, not already mentioned above, that we should watch out for next season?
Most of these kids will barely play.
