Football Wonderkid Scout

Fraser Forster:

With England's recent goalkeeping problems, Capello is believed to be monitoring Forster, who is one of the country's most promising stop stoppers. With excellent reflexes and a commanding precence, Forster has helped Norwich to win promotion to the Championship,having joined from Newcastle on loan, keeping 18 clean sheets in 35 games.

Jack Rodwell:
Rodwell became Everton's youngest ever European debutant at just 16 years and 284 days when he came on as a substitute against AZ. The versatile player who is able to play in defence or in midfield looks matured beyond his years and his tough tackling performances have caught the eye of Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson.

Chris Smalling:
Regarded as one of the most oustanding defending talents in the country, Smalling is considered to be the heir to Ferdinand. Recently signed by Manchester United for £10 million, he has the ideal physical attributes for a centre-half. Standing at 6ft 4 inches, he has pace, strong in the air and good on the ball. He is considered a future regular at Old Trafford and for England.

With Fabio Capello's decision to sign an extension to his current contract beyond the World Cup in South Africa, we look at the young pretenders who could make the step up to the senior national side. With the Italian yet to concrete a regular goalkeeper for the national side and with David James impending retirement after the World Cup, Joe Hart looks to be the next in line, with his reputation growing throughout the season after helping Birmingham to a top half finish, and putting in a number of eye catching displays. Scott Loach at Watford is regarded as one of the best talents outside the Premiership and it remains to be seen just how long the Hornets can keep hold of him. At just 22 years-old he is the current England Under-21 number one, and has already attracted the attention of Tottenham who have been linked with a £3 million move. Joe Lewis at Peterborough has experience at international level, having won 5 caps at Under-21 level. Impressing in League One for Posh, he received a suprise call up by new coach Fabio Capello in May 2008 for the friendlys against Trinidad and Tobago and the United States, where he was an unused substitute. Other noticeable candidates include Newcastle's Fraser Forster, who spent last season on loan at title winning Norwich. A real contender to be number one of the national team in the future, he managed to keep 18 clean sheets in just 35 games for the Canaries. An excellent shot-stopper with good physical presence and command of his area, it is somewhat surprising that he has yet to be capped at international level for any of the youth teams. Arsenal are reportedly keeping tabs his progress. Norwich who have a rich history of producing some of country's finest goalkeepers over the years, have two promising talents on their books in Declan Rudd and Jed Steer. Both have represented England at international youth level but will seek first team experience in the lower tiers of English football in the forthcoming season.

In defence, the most promising talent is Chris Smalling who recently signed for Manchester United. Likened to Rio Ferdinand he has the ideal phsyical attributes for a centre-half. Standing at 6ft 4 inches, he has pace, strong in the air and good on the ball. Smalling is regarded by Sir Alex Ferguson as one for the future, but with doubts over Rio Ferdinand's long-term fitness and fellow centre-half Nemanja Vidic continually linked with a move to Spain, Smalling was the Premiership champions first signing of the forthcoming season. He has been capped up to Under-21 level and has impressed for Fulham in his few appearances. Micah Richard's career has stalled over the last season after bursting onto the scene. Off the field problems and inconsistent form have seen him dropped from Manchester City's starting eleven and he is no longer part of the senior national setup. Investment in some of the worlds best players will not help Richard's cause and a move looks likely, with Arsenal and Tottenham vying suitors. Richards has great potential and can be deployed at either right-back or centre-half, though many argue he is better in the middle. At left-back there is Arsenal's Kieran Gibbs who impressed while deputising for the injured Gael Clichy. With the Frenchman continually linked with a move away from the Emirates, 20 year-old Gibbs could find more first team opportunities over the next few seasons. He has already played at international youth level and is now a regular with the Under-21s. Chelsea's Michael Mancienne is a name for the future. Currently gaining experience on loan at Wolves, Mancienne is a central defender who has pace and is good on the ball. He has continually played for England at international youth level and has appeared for the Under-16s all the way through to the Under-21s where he is currently a regular, winning 21 caps and scoring one goal. On 15 November 2008, Fabio Capello surprisingly named Mancienne in the England squad to play an international friendly match against Germany in Berlin. Although he did not appear in the game, his call up confirmed his growing status and reputation in the game. The ball-playing Mancienne has been compared to legendary German Franz Beckenbauer by Wolves supremo Mick McCarthy.

Everton's Jack Rodwell is perhaps most acknowled and talented youth player. Rodwell became Everton's youngest ever European debutant at just 16 years and 284 days when he came on as a substitute against AZ. The versatile player who is able to play in defence or in midfield looks matured beyond his years and his tough tackling performances have caught the eye of Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson who has been linked with a £30m move for the teenager. The starlet who is under contract until 2014 has already been capped up to U21 level for England, playing for the U18's while just 14 years of age. His first Premier league goal came on February 21 2010 in Everton's 3-1 win over Man Utd. Rodwell who looks the complete player is widely considered to be one of the best talents to emerge in the last decade. Rodwell heads up a new generation of talent in English football and it remains to be seen how long David Moyes can keep his prized asset at the club. Liverpool recently completed the signing of Jonjo Shelvey from Charlton, beating interest off rivals Chelsea and Tottenham. The 18-year-old, who made his first team debut aged 16 years and 59 days, is one of the best young players in the country and already has over 40 appearances under his belt. Able to play as a winger, attacking midfielder or second striker he has all the attributes to suggest he could one day be involved in the senior national setup. Aston Villa's Fabian Delph is a central midfielder who arrived from Leeds having played 53 games for Elland Road based outfit and who has represented his country at Under-19 level as well as the U21s. Immensley talented, Delph is regarded as one of England's brightest prospects and was previously the subject of attention from Manchester United and Tottenham. In April 2010, Delph suffered cruciate ligament damage which will keep him out of action for eight months which will set back his development. With superb composure on the ball, ability beyond his years, and the vision and passing range of a seasoned professional, it is easy to see why there is so much hype with Delph. Predominately left-footed, he is also happy to use his right when necessary and he has already shown he is not affraid to get stuck in, having picked up several yellow cards in his young career. Jack Wilshere is perhaps one of the greatest prospects in English football right now and looks set for a bright and illustrious career with Arsenal, providing Arsene Wenger can carefully nurture this precocious talent. With some comparing him to Wayne Rooney, others to Gazza, Wilshere claims his play and style is more similar to that of Joe Cole. A product of the famed Arsenal youth academy, the 18 year-old who is currently on loan at Bolton looks set to make his breakthrough at the Emirates. Insiders at the club have compared him to the legendary Liam Brady and his stock continued to rise after a series of impressive displays at the Emirates Cup pre-season. The Hertfordshire born starlet is a left-footed attacking midfielder. Capped up to Under 21 level for England, Wilshere made history when he became the youngest player ever to represent Arsenal in European competition when he came off the bench against Dynamo Kyiv in November 2008, aged 16 years of age.

England could well be in for a golden generation of talent coming through after the England Under-17 team came from behind to beat the outright favourites Spain 2-1 to lift the Uefa U17 Championships in Liechtenstein. England had talent running throughout their team and up front they had a formidable pair in Arsenal's Beni Afobe supporting the strapping Connor Wickham, who has had a season to remember. Already a senior regular for Ipswich Town, Wickham did not score in the group stages but scored twice in the semi-final win over France and scored with a superb winner against Spain in the final. Wickham is already a wanted man and at just 17 years of age, has all the attributes to succeed on the world stage if he is nurtured in the way. Tottenham are the early front runners and he is currently linked with a £5 million move. In midfield there was the impressive duo of Liverpool and England captain Conor Coady and Chelsea's Joshua McEachran who suported the attack. In defence, strength and stability was
provided by former Leeds player Luke Garbutt who is now at Everton and has appeared several times already for the first team. Meanwhile between the sticks was
Jack Butland who was on the bench for England's first two wins, but replaced Samuel Johnston for the Turkey encounter with his team already through. The tall
Birmingham City FC keeper's performances was so impressive, he retained his place and aided England to victory as they held on to beat Spain 2-1 in the final. A
number of the tournament winning side look likely to make the grade and Wickham appears the real deal already.