Jack Wilshere, Arsenal

One of many young stars that have come through the ranks at Arsenal, Wilshere came to prominence in the Arsenal boys team that played in the Carling Cup last season and was awarded Man of the Match for his display in the Fourth Round against Wigan, but was too young to accept the obligatory champagne. Following in the footsteps of Cesc Fabregas, whose record he beat as Arsenal youngest league debutant, Wilshere has forced his way into the team at the age of 16 and was a star of the pre-season Emirates Cup, watched by England coach Fabio Capello. His performances earned the praise of manager Arsene Wenger, who has hinted he might have a greater involvement this season “he has benefited a lot from the special treatment. How many games will he play this year? I don’t know.”

A confident midfielder who loves to attack and plays with a confidence and maturity that hides his young age, a fact which is perfectly displayed in the video below.

John Bostock, Tottenham Hotspur

The attacking midfielder became Tottenham’s youngest ever player at the age of 16 years and 295 days, when he made his debut in November 2008 against Dinamo Zagreb in the UEFA Cup. Controversially signed from Crystal Palace for £700k, with the fee eventually rising to £1.25 million, the move infuriated Palace Chairman Simon Jordan, “I feel mugged and brutalised, it is scandalous, and this sends a message to smaller clubs,” said Jordan in The Times. “Why bother to bring players through if tribunals cannot reflect the work that has gone in?” Having made his debut for Palace at the tender age of 15, Bostock has earned England caps at Under-16 and Under-17 level and has impressed in pre-season with confident and assured passing displays from midfield.

Seemingly filmed on a phone it’s difficult to make out Bostock clearly, but he’s credited on YouTube with the first thunderous strike.

Fabian Delph, Aston Villa

Having recently signed for Aston Villa for £6 million, the former Leeds midfielder and current Football League Young Player of the Year, beating off competition from players in the division above, has attracted considerable interest from a host of Premier League clubs, before eventually settling on the picturesque surroundings of Villa Park. The 19 year old made his debut for Leeds at the end of the 2006/07 season, but is wasn’t until last term that he began to catch the eye of Premier League mangers with a string of performances and spectacular goals that also earned him a call-up to the England U21 squad. A possible shrewd signing by Villa manager Martin O’Neill, who clearly has one eye on the future, the diminutive midfielder is unlikely to feature immediately as he will have to adapt to life in the fast lane of the Premier League, but for now he will have to stay in the bus lane after losing his driving license after being arrested for drink driving in December 2008.

Below is a compilation of Delph’s ability infront of goal, with the bonus of exciting graphics and an early nineties dance soundtrack.

Federico Macheda, Manchester United

Having started last season as merely a promising youth player, the 17 year old signed from Lazio in 2007 forced his way into the United team with a string of impressive performances in the reserves. He was rewarded by Ferguson with a substitute appearance against Aston Villa in April 2009 and he duly took his opportunity by scoring the winning goal in the 80th minute, after turning his defender on the left hand corner of the box and curling his strike into the far left hand corner, reminiscent of former United legend Mark Hughes and imprinted his name on the brains of football fans across the country. The big, strong and skilful striker with a Ronaldo like bucket load of gel in his hair will be aiming to continue his goal scoring form for the first team and cement his place as a regular after winning Jimmy Murphy Academy Player of the Year award last season.

Obviously the soundtrack to Macheda’s rise to prominence is Euro dance.

Jonjo Shelvey, Charlton Athletic

Despite currently playing for Charlton Athletic in the Championship, the 17 year old box-to-box attacking midfielder has made a big impression at The Valley and was last week the subject of a £3.5 million bid from Chelsea, but he opted to stay with Charlton, favouring first-team football over a potential career spent on loan. Having represented England at Under-17 level, the 6ft 1in midfielder clearly has admirers in the Premier League, but seemingly fears becoming the next casualty of Chelsea’s academy who fail to break into Chelsea’s international filled starting eleven. Since making his debut in April 2008 as Charlton’s youngest ever player at 16 years and 59 days, Shelvey has become a first-team regular and if he continues the promising to start to his career, an opportunity of regular football in the Premier League can’t be too far away.

Shelvey has yet to make it as a star of YouTube, so you’ll just have to believe me and wait for evidence of his ability to surface online as his career develops.