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The 8 teenagers to buck the trend and play Premier League football this season

Matt Storey - do not use
Getting a game as a teenager in the top-flight isn’t easy, but these players have managed it
Getting a game as a teenager in the top-flight isn’t easy, but these players have managed it

The success of England’s youth teams over the past two years has had fans dreaming of a Premier League full of English talent.

But the current international break has seen numerous articles pointing out that even senior internationals are struggling to get games, despite the Three Lions reaching the semi-finals in Russia.

Such is the need for instant success in the top-flight, giving youngsters a chance is not always the sensible route for managers to go down. They simply cannot afford to think long-term in a short-term industry.

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Despite that, there are teenagers being given the chance in the top-flight – just not very many of them.

Yahoo Sport looks at the eight teenagers to have played in the Premier League this season.

Matteo Guendouzi – Not the new midfield star Arsenal fans were expecting, but the 19-year-old snapped up from Ligue 2 has impressed so far. He has started all four Premier League games, picking up Arsenal’s player of the month award.

Matteo Guendouzi hasn’t been perfect, but he has impressed Arsenal fans
Matteo Guendouzi hasn’t been perfect, but he has impressed Arsenal fans

Dwight McNeil – Making your full Premier League debut at the age of 18 against Manchester United is the stuff of dreams, which is exactly what McNeil did last weekend. He has featured in the Europa League prior to that, before playing 80 minutes against United. A small squad could see him afforded more chances too.

Ryan Sessegnon – Despite only turning 18 in September, Sessegnon made 82 appearances for Fulham over the past two seasons and now gets his chance at Premier League. A player destined for a top side and to be an England regular, the teenager has played in all four games this season.

Trent Alexander-Arnold – Jurgen Klopp admits that Alexander-Arnold only got a chance due to injuries, but he did so well that he is now Liverpool’s regular right-back. An England international too, Alexander-Arnold is one of the English game’s top talents.

Phil Foden – Phil Foden is regularly praised by Pep Guardiola and talked about as an England star, yet he has featured incredibly briefly this season. An eight-minute cameo against Huddersfield is all he has to show, despite a promising showing in the Charity Shield final. Needs more minutes.

Phil Foden may have to look elsewhere for regular football, with the likes of Kevin De Bruyne ahead of him
Phil Foden may have to look elsewhere for regular football, with the likes of Kevin De Bruyne ahead of him

Declan Rice – Just 19-years-old and currently the focus of a tug-of-war between Ireland and England. Rice’s West Ham have not started the season well, but it is still good to see the youngster feature at centre-back.

Ruben Vinagre – A substitute in three of Wolves’ opening four games, the Portuguese left-back looks set for a larger role this year after playing just nine games in their Championship winning season.

Morgan Gibbs-White – Introduced to the first-team set-up midway through last season, Gibbs-White has made two substitute appearances and is clearly a player Nuno Espirito Santo likes. A lesser-known member of England U17s’ World Cup winning squad last year, Gibbs-White scored in the final.