Let's pick from where we stopped in the last episode of the best academy products in the Premier League. In case you missed the first episode, you can catch it here.
5. Dwight McNeil
This a fans favorite at Turf Moor. The English man although spent some part of his formative years at the Manchester United academy, the better part of his growing days were in the Burnley Academy.
Now 22 years old, the midfielder has earned himself a regular place in the Clarets' team. If for nothing, he is known for his very good crosses and shots from range. Currently in the Premier League, he is ranked the best crosser of the ball and even in terms of pressing from high up the pitch, he is ranked number one.
A player who has shown that he has potentials to succeed at the highest level, may not be so long before a big team snatches him off Burnley.
Having being released by the Manchester United Academy in 2014 for lack for play time, he joined Burnley almost a week later and it's been upward from then on, going on to make his league debut for the club against Bournemouth on the last day of the 2017/2018 campaign when they lost to the Cherries 2-1.
Seven months down the line, he would register his first goal for the club in a 2-0 win over West Ham in December 2018. He has represented England at U21 level and with more consistent performance and, perhaps, a move to a bigger club, his call up to the Three Lions may just be round the corner.
6. Mason Mount
The Portsmouth-born midfielder has been a revelation since breaking into the Chelsea first team in August 2019 under the tutelage of former coach Frank Lampard, scoring his first goal about a week later at home against Leicester City. From there onwards, he's never looked back.
Last season, he was very instrumental as Chelsea drove to win the UEFA Champions League under the then new manager, Thomas Tuchel. Mount scored in the quarterfinal and also in the semifinals, before providing the assist for Chelsea's only goal in the final against Manchester City scored by Kai Havertz.
Born on January 10, 1999, Mount scored six league goals for Chelsea in 36 appearances last season, after having scored 7 in 37 in the previous season. Although he has already beaten his last season's record with 7 goals already in just 19 Premier League games this season, he recently has been used on rotational basis by Tuchel due to the congested fixtures and issues around Covid-19.
The 23-year old has represented England at all youth levels and was also part of the Three Lions team that won Silver at the Euro 2020 Championship played last year. He was also named Chelsea Player of the Year for the 2020-2021 season.
7. Reece James
Another revelation from Chelsea's Cobham Academy, one that would have cost Chelsea fortunes were he to have been bought from outside the club.
Originally a right back, the Chelsea Academy graduate has also excelled playing at right wing-back position. He's taken a leap this season from where he stopped last term.
Before injury struck late last year, he was on a run of 0.38 goal or assist per game, only behind Liverpool's high-flying Mohammed Salah and had scored 4 goals in 16 Premier League outings this season.
Having turned professional in 2017, he made his breakthrough into the Chelsea first team in 2019 following a successful loan spell at Wigan Athletic.
At 22, he has already established himself as a regular in the Chelsea and England national teams and is sorely missed by Thomas Tuchel in their recent run of games. He was integral in their run to Champions League glory last season alongside Mount, and also made the final 26-man England squad to the European Championship last summer as England finished 2nd.
He was named co-recepient of the PFA Community Champion Award for the 2020/2021 season for his support towards the Chelsea Foundation.
8. Wilfred Zaha
The Ivory Coast international is another player that has had a stint outside of the club where he came through the ranks, having moved to Manchester United early in his career, but following an unsuccessful stint at the Theatre of Dreams, most of which he spent on loan, he returned to his boyhood club in August 2014.
Zaha joined the Palace Academy in 2004 and made his first team debut for the Eagles in 2010 after moving to England with his family at the age of 4.
Although he had represented England at youth level, he opted to play for Ivory Coast, his country of origin and birth, and is currently with the Elephants on international duty at the AFCON.
The forward, who can play both as a winger and main striker was touted to be a great star, especially following his move to Manchester United, but many feel he has not lived up to his potential. At 29, a peak period in his career, many would have thought that he'd be playing for a bigger club than Crystal Palace.
A very skillful player who can give any team many options going forward with his trickery and good hold up play, he has also been accused of going down too easily most times, a downside to his game that many criticize him for.
In the middle of the fight against racism last season, Zaha refused to continue to take the knee, which has become customary before the kick off of Premier League games, stating that the action has had little or no impact on the actions against players as more players of colour still face racist attacks.
For three consecutive seasons between 2015 and 2018, he was named Crystal Palace's Player of the Year and has scored 51 goals in 232 Premier League games for the Eagles, becoming the club's all-time top scorer in the Premier League era.
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