Five Young English Stars to Watch Out For In 2024

With 2024 having finally arrived, here is a look at five young English stars to watch out for across the next 12 months.

Whilst attention will be focused upon the big stars like Aaron Ramsdale, Marc Guehi, Declan Rice, Jude Bellingham, Bukayo Saka and Phil Foden, there are a lot of young English players who will be looking to raise their game and make a name for themselves in 2024.

Now, here is a look at five such young players who could well face a huge 2024 if they can break through and potentially claim a surprise spot in England’s UEFA Euro 2024 squad.

James Trafford (Burnley)

After winning UEFA Euro Under-21s without conceding, James Trafford made the surprise move from Manchester City to Burnley after an excellent season on loan at Bolton Wanderers.

That gamble certainly seems to have paid off because despite having conceded the second most goals in the Premier League this season, Trafford has been crucial to many of Burnley’s losing margins with his excellent shot-stopping ability – including punches and throw-outs.

No matter how Burnley’s season ultimately unfolds, Trafford has already established himself as a player to watch out for across 2024, especially in the battle for that third goalkeeping spot at UEFA Euro 2024 in the summer.

Tino Livramento (Newcastle United)

Known for his versatility across right and left full-back roles, Tino Livramento faces a huge 2024 because he has benefitted from injuries to Matt Targett and Dan Burn at Newcastle so far this season but he now faces a battle for a regular starting spot in the second half of the campaign.

Livramento however has demonstrated that he has the potential to be a top full-back if he can continue to develop his game, after some impressive performances against the likes of Manchester City, Man United and PSG just to name a few oppositional clubs that he has faced.

The 21 year-old in particular delivered a stunning display as Newcastle thrashed Man Utd at Old Trafford in the Fourth Round of the Carabao Cup, during which he showed impressive solidness at right-back whilst also providing an assist and energetic attacking quality.

Kieran Trippier though has made the right-back role his own on Tyneside in Livramento’s preferred position, which only makes the 21 year-old a stand-out young English defender to watch out for across the year as he seeks to dislodge Trippier as the first-choice right-back.

Cole Palmer (Chelsea)

After struggling to break through into Manchester City’s matchday line-up on a regular basis, Cole Palmer’s move to Chelsea certainly saw the 21 year-old midfielder flourish.

Already an evident versatile attacking midfielder who can play on the wing or in the central attacking role, Palmer has adapted incredibly quickly to his new environment under fellow Chelse newbie in manager – Mauricio Pochettino and delivered regular energetic creative performances.

His outstanding performances especially in a surprise 4-1 triumph away at Tottenham in a hot-tempered encounter, particularly showed just how excellent Palmer is when given the right environment to excel which led to a successful maiden call-up to the England senior squad.

Palmer now needs to just keep building consistency and establish himself as a serious candidate for a spot on the plane to Euro 2024, because this UEFA Euro Under-21s winner is a huge name in the making if he continues to develop at his current rate.

Lewis Miley (Newcastle United)

After his debut appearance in Newcastle’s final game of last season in a 1-1 draw at Chelsea, nobody expected Lewis Miley to quickly impose himself within the senior squad at just 17 year-old this season yet he has done that due to a major injury crisis.

Although one goal and two assists in 13 appearances might not seem much in terms of pure numbers but Miley has adapted well to Newcastle’s fast-and-furious fixture list, which included giants like Borussia Dortmund, Chelsea and PSG with maturity and incredible composure.

In fact for any 17 year-old to find himself parachuted into any senior squad and expected to perform regularly amidst an injury crisis is a tough ask, yet Miley just seemed to slot in with relative ease in both defensive or attacking midfielder role with excellent passing ability.

Newcastle’s injury crisis however will eventually become less problematic once players like Joe Willock and Elliott Anderson return, which will mean less game time for Miley unless he can raise his game and displace those midfielders returning from injury.

2024 therefore will be a year where Miley could well be one to watch because despite his tender age, he has shown that he is ready for regular senior football and if he continues to improve his game, there is little doubt that Miley could be a dark horse for a shock England spot at Euro 2024.

Morgan Gibbs-White (Nottingham Forest)

Although Forest has struggled for much of the current season, Morgan Gibbs-White has quietly proven himself to be a stand-out player in the team with his excellent attacking play and he now looks set to be one player to watch out this year.

Capable of playing as winger or attacking midfielder, Gibbs-White has undoubtedly been one of Forest’s best players in the first half of the campaign with his creativity on the ball, which has seen him create more touches, passes, through balls and crosss than his fellow attacking teammates.

Gibbs-White need to kick on now that he is reunited with his former boss – Nuno Espirito Santo from their time together at Wolves, and start turning more of his creativity into goals and assists if he wants to push for a surprise Euro 2024 spot given his strong form for Forest.