Welcome to the CaughtOffside end of year awards part one, starting with the top ten emerging Premier League players…
We’re feeling in the festive spirit here at CaughtOffside, and have decided to hand out a host of end of season awards – how generous of us right! We’re starting with the top ten emerging Premier League players of 2014.
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This list consists of those young players who have shown the most signs of development over this calender year, including both the second-half of last season, and the first-half of the current campaign.
With stars from Liverpool, Tottenham and Southampton all included, see if you agree with our rankings:
10) Nathaniel Clyne (Southampton)
The full-back has played a key role in Southampton excellent start to the new season, and has even earned himself an England call-up with his consistently impressive performances.
9) Aaron Cresswell (West Ham United)
The young full-back might have only arrived in the Premier League during the summer, but he has been one of the Hammers stand-out players so far this season, helping them to fourth spot in the league table.
8) Graziano Pelle (Southampton)
Another summer arrival, the Italian striker has been the catalyst to Southampton’s excellent start to the season, scoring 11 goals in all competitions, and added a twelfth on his international debut.
7) Charlie Austin (Queens Park Rangers)
The top scoring Englishman in the Premier League so far this season, with 11 already – including an impressive hat-trick against West Brom last weekend. His goals could well be what keeps Rangers in the Premier League.
6) Yannick Bolasie (Crystal Palace)
The skilful winger has brought much more threat to his game this year, after struggling to score or create goals during the start of his Premier League career, despite much of his good play. Now Palace’s star man.
5) Saido Berahino (West Bromwich Albion)
The young English striker hit the ground running this season, after first emerging in the latter-half of last season. His goals earned him a call-up to the England side last month, and he could face a transfer in January.
4) Harry Kane (Tottenham Hotspur)
Another young Englishman who has stood out this year, Kane is well on his way to his 20 goal target for this season, with 13 already in all competitions. He’s also proved himself to be a truly terrible goalkeeper.
3) Morgan Schneiderlin (Southampton)
Southampton had to fight hard to keep hold of one of their prize assets in the summer, and it shows how highly they rate the Frenchman that it was he who they wished to keep, rather than Adam Lallana, Luke Shaw or Dejan Lovren.
2) Christian Eriksen (Tottenham)
The talent Danish midfielder has been Tottenham’s key man under both Tim Sherwood and Mauricio Pochettino, and has proved to be one of the few successes to come out of Gareth Bale’s departure last year.
1) Raheem Sterling (Liverpoool)
The Liverpool winger was exceptional during the first-half of 2014, and came extremely close to helping Liverpool to a first league title in over two decades. Became a key man for club and country, and has continued that form this season.
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