'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
England currently have one of the world's best pool of young, talented players. Following in the footsteps of the 'Golden Generation' before them, these young players mainly represent clubs in the Premier League.
The previous generation boasted the likes of Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard, Wayne Rooney, John Terry and Ashley Cole, among others. However, they were unfortunate not to win any major international honours.
One can sense that the case is slightly different for the current crop, though. Most of them have played together at various youth levels for club and country. Players like Callum Hudson-Odoi, Phil Foden and Jadon Sancho have tasted success together, winning the U-17 World Cup together in India in 2017.
Foden scored in the 88th minute as England rallied from two goals down to beat Spain 5-2 in Kolkata to win their maiden U-17 World Cup.
Foden and Sancho have since gone on to represent England at UEFA Euro 2020, and will look to establish their spots in the coming years.
However, there are a few more players in England's ranks who can make the jump and become global superstars. Without further ado, here's a look at the five youngsters who can break into the England team.
#5 Jacob Ramsey (Aston Villa)
Jacob Matthew Ramsey was born in Birmingham, England, in 2001, and joined the Aston Villa academy in 2007 as a six-year-old. He spent 12 years in their youth ranks before getting promoted to the senior team in 2019. It was at that time Ramsey started making an impression.
By the end of 2019, he was named Aston Villa's 2018-19 Academy Player of the Season. Last year, he was sent out on loan to Doncaster Rovers to gain regular game time and experience. He scored his first two senior goals in a 3-0 win away at Tranmere Rovers. Soon after, the COVID-19 pandemic happened, and Ramsey returned to Villa as football action ground to a halt.
This year, Ramsey signed a new four-and-a-half year deal with the Villans, and scored his first Premier League goal in a 3-1 loss against Arsenal. It was a stunning strike, with the England youth international picking his spot in the top corner with a sublime effort.
Jacob Ramsey has represented England across various youth levels, playing 14 games and scoring one goal. His hunger to have the ball at his feet and make an impact on the game may not go unnoticed for long. Dean Smith and now Steven Gerrard have a gem on their hands at Villa.
It remains to be seen how Ramsey develops in the coming months.
#4 Conor Gallagher (Crystal Palace, on loan from Chelsea)
Conor John Gallagher was born in Epsom, England, in 2000, and began his youth career with a brief spell with the Epsom Eagles. He then joined Chelsea's youth set-up in 2008. He has gone on loan to multiple clubs, including Charlton Athletic, Swansea City, West Bromwich Albion, and currently, Crystal Palace.
Gallagher has not yet made an appearance for Chelsea, but was an unused substitute in The Blues' win over Arsenal in the 2019 UEFA Europa League Final. He also won the Chelsea's Academy Player of the Year award for the 2018-19 season.
Gallagher made 36 appearances for England across various youth levels before he was recently handed his senior debut. He came on as a half-time substitute in a 10-0 win for England over a hapless San Marino side.
A box-to-box midfielder, Gallagher can play an advanced role as well as a deep-lying one, due to his varied skillset. He has an incredible work rate, and glides across the pitch. He also has the ability to make crunching tackles, and has good passing vision.
Gallagher could surely be an important asset to England's plans in the future.
#3 Harvey Elliott (Liverpool)
Harvey Daniel James Elliott was born in Chertsey, England, in 2003, and began his youth career at Queens Park Rangers. He then joined Fulham's academy in 2018. Soon after that, he was promoted to The Cottagers' senior team, where he impressed with his performances.
For Fulham, Elliott became the youngest player to play in the EFL Cup in 2018, aged 15 years and 174 days. In 2019, he also became the youngest player to play in the Premier League, at 16 years and 30 days.
Having grown up as a Liverpool supporter, Elliott was offered a chance to join The Reds in 2019, an offer he accepted with open arms. Aged 16 years and 174 days, he became the youngest-ever player to start a game for Liverpool. A month later, he also became the youngest player to start a game at Anfield (against Arsenal, aged 16 years and 209 days).
Elliott has so far made 14 appearances for England's youth teams, scoring a respectable tally of eight goals. Playing predominantly as a winger or an attacking midfielder, Elliott possesses incredible calmness and presence of mind for his age. He has the ability to carry the ball as well as make incisive passes.
Harvey Elliott is currently recovering from a dislocated ankle, which he suffered in a game against Leeds United in September. Liverpool have said that he could return to action before the season ends.
#2 Emile Smith Rowe (Arsenal)
Emile Smith Rowe was born in Croydon, England, in 2000, and joined the Arsenal academy in 2010. He came through the ranks with The Gunners, and signed his first professional contract with them in 2017.
Smith Rowe's appearance against Vorskla Poltava in the UEFA Europa League was the first by a player born after 2000 in the competition for Arsenal. His goal against Qarabag in a 3-0 win made him the youngest goalscorer for the club since Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain in 2011. Smith Rowe also became the first player born after 2000 to score for the club.
He is only the second-youngest goalscorer for Arsenal at Old Trafford in the Premier League, behind Frenchman Nicolas Anelka.
Smith Rowe has had loan spells at RB Leipzig and Huddersfield Town, where he was given regular game time to aid his growth. However, since 2020, he has been a mainstay in Arsenal's first team, and more recently, their starting XI.
Emile Smith Rowe made 26 appearances for England at the youth level, scoring six goals. He was handed his senior England debut by Gareth Southgate as a 77th-minute substitute for Raheem Sterling. Smith Rowe scored his first senior England goal in the next game, a 10-0 win against San Marino.
Having established himself as a starter for his club, Smith Rowe will be fired up to improve on his two senior caps for England in the future.
#1 Mason Greenwood (Manchester United)
Mason Will John Greenwood was born in Bradford, England, in 2001, and joined Manchester United's youth academy in 2007.
In the 2017-18 season, despite being eligible for the U-16s, Greenwood represented United's U-18s. He finished the season as the top scorer with 17 goals in 21 games in the U-18 Premier League North.
Greenwood made his competitive debut for United's senior team as a late substitute for Ashley Young in a 3-1 win over Paris Saint-Germain in 2019. Aged 17 years and 156 days, he became United's second-youngest player to represent the club in the Champions League, behind Norman Whiteside.
Since then, he has gone on to make 121 appearances for The Red Devils, scoring 34 goals and providing 13 assists. Last night in the Champions League, he scored a stunning volley to put United 1-0 up against Young Boys in their final group game. Despite a 1-1 draw on the night, United had already clinched top spot in their group before the game.
The England international has an incredible left foot reminiscent of Robin van Persie and Gareth Bale.
The youngster has made 16 appearances for England at youth level, scoring three goals. Greenwood was handed his senior England debut in 2020 in a UEFA Nations League A match against Iceland.
With maturity starting to show and his game becoming quicker, it is only a matter of time before Greenwood becomes a prolific scorer for United and England.
