10 young players to watch

Fulham's English defender Ryan Sessegnon (C) makes a through pass in the build up to the opening goal by Fulham's English midfielder Tom Cairney during the English Championship play-off final football match between Aston Villa and Fulham at Wembley Stadium in London on May 26, 2018. (Photo by Ian KINGTON / AFP) / NOT FOR MARKETING OR ADVERTISING USE / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE (Photo credit should read IAN KINGTON/AFP/Getty Images)
Fulham's English defender Ryan Sessegnon (C) makes a through pass in the build up to the opening goal by Fulham's English midfielder Tom Cairney during the English Championship play-off final football match between Aston Villa and Fulham at Wembley Stadium in London on May 26, 2018. (Photo by Ian KINGTON / AFP) / NOT FOR MARKETING OR ADVERTISING USE / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE (Photo credit should read IAN KINGTON/AFP/Getty Images) /
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Ten young players to watch during the 2018/19 Premier League season, including Marcus Rashford and Ryan Sessegnon.

Marcus Rashford faces a make-or-break Premier League season at Manchester United in 2018-19. But the England international isn’t the only talented young prospect who will be under the spotlight during the new campaign.

Premier League audiences will want to know if Ryan Sessegnon can thrive at a higher level after he dominated during Fulham’s promotion from the Championship.

Some young players, including Manchester City’s Phil Foden, will be challenged to make sure their clubs don’t regret not dipping more heavily into the transfer market.

Here are the 10 young players to watch this season:

BOCHUM, GERMANY – JULY 22: Diogo Jota of Wolverhampton Wanderers looks on during the H-Hotels Cup match between VfL Bochum and Wolverhampton Wanderers FC at Vonovia Ruhrstadion on July 22, 2018 in Bochum, Germany. (Photo by TF-Images/Getty Images)
BOCHUM, GERMANY – JULY 22: Diogo Jota of Wolverhampton Wanderers looks on during the H-Hotels Cup match between VfL Bochum and Wolverhampton Wanderers FC at Vonovia Ruhrstadion on July 22, 2018 in Bochum, Germany. (Photo by TF-Images/Getty Images) /

10. Diogo Jota, Wolves

Wolves haven’t been in the Premier League since 2012. If last season’s Championship winners aren’t going to be one and done, Diogo Jota will have to carry the scoring load.

It’s something the versatile attacking midfielder managed superbly during the promotion run. The 21-year-old Portuguese budding star helped himself to 18 goals and five assists.

Jota can play anywhere along the front, but is at his best when he starts on the left flank. Manager Nuno Espirito Santo gives him free rein to ghost off the wing and get through the middle.

Timing and perception are the keys to Jota’s subtle and varied range of movement. He rarely wastes chances when he gets into dangerous positions, finishing with a coolness belying his tender years.

Jota could be a breakout player in the new season, one good enough to keep Wolves in England’s top flight beyond 2019.