Ethan Nwaneri, Fabio Carvalho and 10 youngsters who’ve impressed for Premier League clubs in pre-season

AnalysisPremier LeagueManchester UnitedLiverpoolArsenalManchester CityTottenhamEthan NwaneriFabio CarvalhoHarry AmassArchie GrayOscar BobbLucas BergvallMikey MooreYankuba MintehFEATURESBrighton

A string of youthful talent has caught the eye this summer and could be set for increased roles heading into the new campaign

It’s been an odd pre-season for most Premier League clubs. With various players’ involvement in the European Championship and Copa America leaving them unable to partake in their side’s overseas tours, the gaps have been plugged by a string of young players desperate to impress before the new campaign kicks-off.

Of course, getting to watch your team’s next big thing has always been an integral part of these summer warm-up games. But the unique circumstances have provided more youthful talent than ever with the opportunity to force their way into the senior squad.

Many have grasped this chance with both hands, and we could be seeing a lot more of them when the proper stuff kicks off next week. Here, then, are 10 such youngsters who have seriously improved their standings during pre-season…

Harry Amass (Manchester United)

Having witnessed Alejandro Garnacho and Kobbie Mainoo force their way into the senior squad, the Manchester United youngsters included in the travelling party to the United States this summer will have been conscious that there is no age barrier preventing them from breaking into the first team. There’s been a couple of standout performers, with Will Fish looking assured prior to picking up a nasty injury, while fellow young defender Harry Amass deserves immense credit too.

The left-back, signed in 2023 from Watford, has looked strong going in both directions and even registered an assist in the victory over Real Betis where he was engaged in a fascinating running battle with Hector Bellerin. Ten Hag is clearly excited about Amass, perhaps seeing a pathway to the first team this season due to Luke Shaw and Tyrell Malacia’s fitness issues.

“In this moment he needs to catch up and he has to develop some of the skills needed to play for Manchester United, when we are competing for the highest position in the league,” the Dutchman said of the 17-year-old recently. “But with big talent it can go very quickly and it is very interesting to see if he is capable of doing this.”

Lucas Bergvall (Tottenham)

After fighting off competition from Barcelona to seal his signature in February 2024, Spurs fans have finally been able to catch a glimpse of Lucas Bergvall this pre-season. So far, there’s been no complaints, with the Swede looking comfortable in the roaming playmaker role James Maddison thrived in last season.

Bergvall registered an assist on his Tottenham debut against Hearts and, after shaking off an injury picked up in a clash with QPR, he’s racked up more minutes on the club’s tour of Asia. Some fans have even called for him to start ahead of Maddison when the season gets going, though Postecoglou has warned that the young Swede needs more time to get used to his demanding training methods.

Oscar Bobb (Manchester City)

Oscar Bobb is hardly a fresh face on the block, having racked up a decent amount of substitute appearances for Manchester City last season. However, it still feels like this pre-season has been important in him moving up the pecking order at the Etihad Stadium.

With a sizeable proportion of the first-team squad missing due to their international commitments, Bobb was City’s standout player on their U.S. tour, scoring twice and chipping in with three assists. After he was involved in all three of his side’s goals against Celtic, Guardiola hailed the Norwegian’s “incredible potential”, and with his rivals for the right-wing position unlikely to be up to speed for Saturday’s Community Shield, Bobb will surely be heavily involved at Wembley.

Fabio Carvalho (Liverpool)

At the end of last season, it seemed like Fabio Carvalho’s Liverpool career was over. After struggling to break into the first team following his arrival in summer 2022, then-manager Jurgen Klopp confirmed that the midfielder wasn’t happy with his playing time and he was shipped out on loan to RB Leipzig in July 2023.

That didn’t work out either, though a change of scenery at Hull City last January did suggest that his talent had not waned. Still, with reports of attitude problems hanging over him, it seemed like the opportune time to move on this summer. But incoming boss Arne Slot has had other ideas.

Initially impressed by the Portuguese, Carvalho responded to the trust Slot has placed in him by scoring against both Arsenal and Manchester United. And with the Reds rejecting an offer from Southampton for him in recent days, it would seem that his Anfield story isn’t quite over yet.

Archie Gray (Tottenham)

In years to come, some of Spurs’ Premier League rivals might live to regret not pushing harder to sign Archie Gray this summer. In the end, Tottenham only had to fend off interest from Brentford to snap up last season’s Championship Young Player of the Season from Leeds.

Despite still only being 18, Gray has adapted to his new surroundings rapidly, looking composed in possession and full of energy. Following his debut, Postecoglou was left impressed, stating: “I thought Archie was really good today. He did the things we know he can do really well. He’s adapting to the intensity and tempo of everything we do.”

The Spurs boss would go on to hint that Gray is likely to play a major role in the rotation this term. “They’re not here to ease their way in. They want to play,” he said, in reference to both Gray and Bergvall.

James McAtee (Manchester City)

A rare bright spot for Sheffield United during the Blades’ pitiful 2023-24 season, James McAtee is now back at his parent club and pushing hard for first-team minutes. After a slightly slow start to pre-season, he netted against AC Milan and then ran the show during his side’s win over Chelsea, proving that he’s good enough to contribute when given the chance.

Despite interest in him at the beginning of the summer, McAtee is said to be eager to fight for playing time and Guardiola has responded by confirming that he will be part of the senior set-up this season. After letting Cole Palmer slip through the net, keeping McAtee content will be a priority for City this season.

Yankuba Minteh (Brighton)

A victim of Newcastle’s need to comply with the Premier League’s Profit and Sustainability Rules, the Magpies may come to rue letting Minteh depart St. James’ Park. Plucked from Danish side Odense BK just a few months ago, he netted 10 league goals for Feyenoord on loan last season and is already showing what Eddie Howe and Co are set to miss out on.

In his very first game, he got Brighton fans’ tongues wagging with a scintillating solo goal against Kashima Antlers, while new Seagulls manager Fabian Hurzeler seemed to reveal how coachable the £30m ($38m) winger is in a recent interview.

“And it’s not only his offensive skills, it’s also how he works against the ball, how he reacts when he loses the ball,” the German said. “It’s something where we as a team are really happy about him. I think he’s a good listener. He tries to listen, and then immediately he goes to the pitch and tries to do what you say to him.”

Mikey Moore (Tottenham)

Bergvall and Gray are far from the only youngsters that Spurs fans have been getting excited about. Sixteen-year-old Mikey Moore is already being quietly spoken about as the spiritual successor to Harry Kane, with Tottenham facing a tough battle to keep hold of the teenager amid interest from Manchester United.

His displays in pre-season have only ramped up the hype, too. Against Hearts, he was the beneficiary of Bergvall’s probing through ball, weaving in and out of the defence after receiving the pass and then smashing home. A winning goal in the J.League World Challenge final would follow too, after which Postecoglou was full of praise, saying: “Mikey has been fantastic since we brought him in. He’s earned his spot on the roster at the moment.”

Although he might be slightly too young to be involved in the first team in any serious capacity this season, the early signs are extremely promising and Moore seems destined for an excellent career.

Ethan Nwaneri (Arsenal)

Since becoming the youngest player in Premier League history when Mikel Arteta threw him on against Brentford in September 2022, Ethan Nwaneri has had to be patient, with additional first-team involvement at a premium. That might just be changing, though.

After stealing the show in the first half against Manchester United, Arteta laid down a challenge for the youngster, saying: “It’s always in the hands of the players, so show what you can do. Show that ambition, that determination, that quality and things will happen naturally. Tomorrow he’s going to train with us again and if he continues to play like that he’s going to play some minutes on Wednesday for sure.”

Since then, Nwaneri has caught the eye on several more occasions and he might prove to be an interesting midfield option for Arteta over the coming months. With the free-scoring Chido Obi-Martin leaving too, Arsenal will be doing their utmost to prevent Nwaneri from following suit. Two of their brightest prospects in recent memory leaving in quick succession would not be a good look.

Trey Nyoni (Liverpool)

Injuries introduced Liverpool fans to some of their brightest prospects a little earlier than they might have expected last season, with Jurgen Klopp’s young guns famously beating Chelsea in the Carabao Cup final in March. Trey Nyoni also saw some playing time in 2023-24, coming on as a late substitute in an FA Cup fifth-round triumph over Southampton, but the likes of Jayden Danns, Conor Bradley and Bobby Clark received far more attention.

That has begun to change in pre-season, though, with the ex-Leicester starlet grabbing the headlines. Having previously been used as a winger, Nyoni has been reshaped into a versatile midfielder, showing off his skills alongside Wataru Endo against Real Betis recently. A fearsome dribbler with a seemingly limitless passing range, he’s a name to track very closely over the coming months.