Five footballers to look out for next season

From the latest player to be included in the 2016-17 Championship Team of the Season, to the Chelsea loanee who’s scored 19 goals, Elephant Sport presents its pick of the players set to make their mark next season and beyond. 

Aaron Mooy – Midfielder 

On loan from Premier League club Manchester City, 26-year old Australian international Aaron Mooy has played an anchoring role in the heart of midfield for surprise Championship promotion contenders Huddersfield Town.

Since his arrival at the John Smith Stadium, Mooy has been won three Huddersfield Player of the Month awards.

His great form, which has resulted in several man-of-the-match performances, has help to take his side to new heights.

As things stand, they are third in the league table and still in with a chance of gaining automatic promotion to the Premier League.

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Having joined the Terriers last summer, Mooy has scored three goals in 36 league appearances and provided five assists for his team-mates.

He has arguably been one of the Championship’s signings of the season and has been named in the league’s Team of the Season.

 

 

 

Head coach David Wagner has praised the City loanee. “One of the best for sure, we are very happy with him on the pitch and in the dressing room as well.

“He is an interesting character because he is very quiet but always focused, and he is a great footballer as well. We are very happy that we have him.”

Anthony Knockaert – Winger 

Brighton & Hove Albion’s French winger has been an indispensable player for the Championship club.

The 25-year old signed for the Seagulls from Standard Liege in the 2016 January transfer window and has scored 13 goals in 37 league appearances this season, as well as conjuring up seven assists.

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The Frenchman, once with Leicester City, has played a crucial role in his side’s quest for promotion to the Premier League.

The in-form winger has notched up an impressive seven Man of The Match awards, and his performances have made him a firm favourite with the fans.

 

 

He has since extended his initial three-year contract and will now remain at the Amex Stadium until the end of the 2020-21 campaign.

Commenting on the extension, Seagulls boss Chris Hughton said: “Anthony has been an integral member of the squad since his arrival in January last year, and I am delighted that we have been able to secure his immediate future to the club.”

“This new contract recognises the hard work and relentless effort he has given to the team, and I am looking forward to working with him over the coming years.”

To no surprise, Knockaert has been named in the Championship Team of The Season.

John Swift – Midfielder 

The 21-year old England U21 midfielder has made a name for himself in the Championship with Reading who are currently fifth in the league table.

His three goals in January not only boosted the Royals chances of making the play-offs, but also landed him the EFL Young Player of the Month award.

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In the number 10 position in 29 league appearances, he has scored seven goals and created three assists already this campaign.

 

 

 

 

 

In 2012, whilst playing for his previous club Chelsea, Swift lifted the FA Youth Cup.

The following season, he won the Premier League title with the Blues U21 side, scoring nine goals in 29 appearances.

Having already made his senior Premier League debut with Chelsea, Swift is no stranger to the expectations of playing in the top flight.

With Reading chasing a return to the Premier League, he will no doubt be up for the fight that awaits the Royals after the international break.

Tammy Abraham – Striker 

Abraham is rocking up quite a storm at Bristol City. On a season long-loan from Chelsea, the 19-year old striker is certainly making his mark in the Championship.

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At present, with 19 goals and three assists in 33 league appearances, the England U21 international has scored the most goals by a teenager across the top four English divisions.

 

 

 

 

The powerful striker netted 74 goals in 98 games across all competition at various levels for the the Chelsea youth team during the 2014-15 and 2015-16 campaigns.

He was part of the Chelsea squad which won back to back titles in both the FA Youth Cup and the UEFA Youth League [UYL]  in the 2015 and 2016 campaigns.

His performance in the 2016 UYL saw him score eight goals in nine games, making him the tournament’s second highest goal scorer. He was then invited to train with the Chelsea senior squad by former interim manager Guss Hiddink.

Not long after on May 11th, 2016 in a Premier League fixture against Liverpool, Hiddink gave Abraham his senior debut, the promising forward replacing Bertrand Traore in the 74th minute.

Tyrone Mings – Defender 

AFC Bournemouth signed the 24-year old defender on a four-year contract from Ipswich Town for a reported £8m in the summer 2015 transfer window.

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Sadly, on his debut against Leicester City, Mings was substituted minutes into the game with an injury.

It transpired that he had torn his anterior cruciate ligaments [ACL], and the frustrated Cherries signing spent a season on the sidelines before making his return to manager Eddie Howe’s starting XI.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The defender is a product of Southampton’s youth academy where he played alongside future Arsenal star and England international Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.

Cherries supporters have yet to see the best of him, but given more game time with his potential he has all the attributes to become a regular in the Bournemouth line-up.

In the near future, many believe he is bound to be called up to the England senior squad.