Ranking the 5 favorites for PFA YPOTY
By every ramification, the PFA YPOTY (Professional Footballers' Association Young Player of the Year) award is a clear indication of players who are going to continue at the top level in football for years to come.
It is hardly any surprise that players like Wayne Rooney, David Beckham, Steven Gerrard, and others were once recipients of this prestigious award. Nearly all of them went on to have blistering careers in Europe, winning trophies and leading their teams.
In the last few years, players like Harry Kane, Raheem Sterling, and more recently, Trent Alexander-Arnold, have won the award and matured in similar fine form. Last season, the YPOTY was Manchester City's Phil Foden, thanks to the vibrant season he had under Pep Guardiola's management at the Etihad.
Players like Wayne Rooney have won the award in consecutive seasons, and thanks to yet another sublime season, Phil Foden could join that prestigious group. The star also won the Premier League Young Player of the Season award last year, and could be up for that same trophy this year as well.
However, the City ace will have to be wary of other vibrant youngsters who have excelled this season and deserve a shout in the discussion for YPOTY. So without further ado, let's take a look at the five favorites for YPOTY:
#5 Conor Gallagher | Crystal Palace
The only noticeable dent in Conor Gallagher's season is his discipline, with the star picking up an unrepentant five yellow cards in his last ten games in all competitions. Discipline aside, the 22-year-old has become one of the most exciting young players in England.
Currently playing on loan at Crystal Palace, his explosive season likely means that Chelsea won't be too keen on letting him leave on loan next season.
Conor Gallagher scores a banger to seal a 3-1 W for Crystal Palace against Everton ☄️
(via @NBCSportsSoccer)
https://t.co/WjVOaogm86
For Palace, the midfielder has scored eight goals and assisted three in 25 EPL appearances, cementing his place as one of the best midfielders in the league. It's not just his contribution in the final third that has been sublime throughout this campaign.
His defensive contributions have been just as impressive, with the star averaging over two tackles per Premier League game. With an exciting second season in the top tier league, Gallagher seems to have already found his place.
#4 Emile Smith Rowe | Arsenal
Although he has spent much of his playing career at Arsenal, loan stints at RB Leipzig and Huddersfield Town took Emile Smith Rowe away from the Emirates for two years.
However, the 21-year-old England international has returned to the Gunners with an unmatchable vibrance, settling into brilliant form and performing well all season. Mikel Arteta may have gotten some raised eyebrows after handing Smith Rowe the No. 10, but the youngster has flourished in it.
Emile Smith Rowe scores his seventh goal of the season 🌟
(via @NBCSportsSoccer)
https://t.co/sGtK4rAiWn
Taking up the mantle from former Real Madrid playmaker Mesut Ozil cannot be easy on any terms. Yet, Emile Smith Rowe has fit those shoes well, and he has already grown out of Ozil's shadow at the Emirates Stadium.
The star has almost singlehandedly guided Arsenal up the rankings into the top four, thanks to nine goals and two assists in 16 EPL starts. Scoring two goals in his last eight games across all competitions only shows that the star is growing well under Arteta's guidance.