By Chris Vermeulen

This week’s feature continues with part 2 of Young Guns. Today we look at the top 5 under 21 midfielders at the moment. Admittedly I was caught by surprise when I saw the amount of quality players I had to choose from and it became impossible to choose just 5 players. We decided that the list will now become an unofficial 26-man list and this part will be split into two categories: Midfielders and Wingers.

Midfielders

Mario Götze

Götze looking for that magic pass.

A product of the youth factory that is Borussia Dortmund, Mario Götze has burst onto the scene and in little over a season he has become one of the most sought after young players in the world. Götze had to step up to the plate last season after regular playmaker Shinji Kagawa was injured, and he did just that. In the 2010/11 season he had eight goals and 16 assists in 41 games.

The 19 year-old also has 12 full international caps for Germany after he became the youngest capped German international on his debut against Sweden.  He is also the joint-youngest goalscorer for Germany after he scored his first international goal against brazil.

His second season will be his truest test, but he is doing well so far having scored six goals and five assists in 18 matches(all competitions). It also remains  to be seen how long Dortmund can hang on to their young star with a lot of clubs vying for his signature.

Lucas

São Paulo's most valuable asset proving his worth.

Lucas Rodrigues Moura da  Silva currently plies his trade at São Paulo in Brazil. Already being a regular in the São Paulo team for two seasons now, it’s hard to remember that Lucas is only 19. He has recorded 15 goals and 10 assists in 62 competitive matches. Having been named on FIFA’s players to watch in 2011 list, he’s club has secured his future with a buyout clause in the region of 80 million Euros.

Lucas is also a regular feature in the Brazil national team having recorded 10 caps and one goal already. After his debut against Scotland in March 2011, he earned a call up into the 23-man Brazil squad for the 2011 Copa America. The Superclásico de las Américas saw Lucas scoring his first international goal against Argentina.

He may not be making headlines as much as his peers on this list but it’s just a matter of time before Lucas makes the switch to a big European team.

Thiago

Thiago troubling the Manchester United goalkeeper in summer friendly.

Thiago Alcântara do Nascimento the half Brazilian, naturalised Spanish footballer who is pushing for his place in Barcelona’s magnificent first 11. You know when you have a dad who is a World Cup winner with Brazil that you’re going to have a brilliant footballer on your hands. Thiago is just that guy, although not a true product of Barcelona’s academy, he has benefited greatly from his two years in the academy and a further two years with Barcelona B. Since then he’s made 25 appearances for the Barcelona 1st team and bagged four goals. With a €90 million buyout clause on his contract, Barcelona are very keen on keeping the 20 year-old for many seasons to come.

Before he made his Spanish debut in August of 2011, Thiago had the choice of playing for either Brazil, Italy or Spain having previously only played for U/21 Spanish team. He chose to play for Spain and made his debut against Italy.  Thiago has yet to fully break into the Spanish national team, but that is understandable when your competing for midfield places with Xavi, Iniesta, Fabregas, Alonso, Busquets, David Silva and more. He has made 3 appearances though and with his continued progress he will get in there soon enough. Before August of 2011 Thiago had the choice of playing for either Brazil, Italy or Spain having previously only played for U/21 Spanish team.

Jack Wilshere

Wilshere claiming his spot in the England line-up.

Jack Wilshere is the youngest player ever to make a debut for Arsenal at 16 years and 256 days. He is now 19 and has become a regular on Arsène Wenger’s team-sheet. The 2010/11 season was undoubtedly Wilshere’s breakout season and as a result he won the PFA Young Player of the Year award, was named in the PFA team of the Year and won Arsenal’s Player of the Season award ahead of players like Robin van Persie, Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri.

Wilshere also got his maiden cap for England in August 2010 and impressed in an unfamiliar role ahead of the defenders. He’s made five further appearances since and, when fit, could start ahead of players like Frank Lampard. He has yet to score a goal for England, but as a holding midfielder it is not expected of him to score goals but to distribute the ball and keep the rhythm flowing. Although he is currently dealing with an injury and is not expected to play again until January, the future looks promising for the touted future captain of England.

Christian Eriksen

Eriksen celebrating a Champions League goal.

Christian Eriksen is another player who’s been around the block even though he’s only 19 years old. Eriksen has made 74 appearances for Dutch champions Ajax and has scored 11 goals. The Danish star was vital to Ajax’s in their bid for their first Eredivisie title in 7 years. The 2010/11 season was his breakout season as he won Danish Talent of the Year and Ajax’s Talent of the Year.

The year got better for Eriksen as he made his debut for the Danish national team and later became the youngest player at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. At the World Cup he played two matches against the Netherlands and Japan, but he couldn’t help Denmark proceed past the group stages.

Eriksen is already a sought after player, even after committing to Ajax until the end of the 2011/12 season at least. It will be interesting to see if Ajax can hold on to him beyond the summer.

Players that missed out on this midfielder list are; Arsenal’s Aaron Ramsey, Roma’s Erik Lamela, Liverpool’s Jordan Henderson, Sochaux’s Ryad Boudebouz, Inter’s Phillipe Coutinho, Spartak Moscow’s Jano Ananidze and Basel’s Granit Xhaka.

Wingers

Eden Hazard

Lille's Championship Talisman.

In the 2010/11 season Hazard was undoubtedly the factor which led to Lille winning Ligue 1 for the first time since the 1953–54 season. By time of writing he has 33 goals and 27 assists in 158 games, and is continuing to tear up defences in League 1 and, for the first time, Champions League. Hazard is known for his technical ability and blistering pace, which he can us to blitz down either flank. Hazard has been likened to both Lionel Messi and Christiano Ronaldo by former players and managers alike. For a 20 year-old he certainly is close to being at that very highest level and he could very likely be at a big European club at the start of the 2012/13 season. Clubs said to be interested are Real Madrid, Arsenal, Liverpool, Chelsea and Manchester United.

Hazard has been capped by Belgium 25 times since 2008/09 when he made his debut at the age of 17 years and 316 days. In that time he has scored 1 goal and 7 assists. Hazard is one talented player and he is definitely on that should be watched in the coming years.

Iker Muniain

Muniain helping Spain to the U/21 Euro Champs.

With 94 appearances and 14 goals for Athletic Bilbao it’s easy to forget that Iker Muniain is only 18 years-old. Muniain made his Athletic debut at the age of 16 years, 7 months and 11 days old, becoming the youngest player to represent Athletic in a competitive match. A week after his debut he became the youngest Athletic goalscorer ever against BSC Young Boys in a Europa League qualifying match.

Muniain is a regular in the Spain U/21 squad and helped the team to the 2011 U/21 European Championships. He has yet to break into Spain’s first team, but being 18 that’s to be expected. To be fair he’s done extremely well to be called up for the U/21s at his age, with his continued progress he’s sure to get on Del Bosque’s teamsheet.

Xherdan Shaqiri

Shaqiri; Too Good for Swiss Axpo League?

Xherdan Shaqiri has been a consistent face in the FC Basel team since the 2009/10 season. He has played in 87 competitive matches in which he has scored 14 goals. The Albanian born Swiss international is one of the most exciting emerging talents in the world and at 20 year-old has the world in front of him. Shaqiri could have his pick of any number of clubs who are all battling for his signature.

On international level Shaqiri has been even more impressive having played 15 games. It was in a UEFA European Championship qualifying match where he made himself known to the world with a rare, and spectacular, international hat-trick.

Antoine Griezmann

Griezmann Blitzing Down the Wing for Sociedad.

At 20 years-old it’s remarkable that Griezmann has already made 86 appearances for Real Sociedad. He’s also scored 18 goals, a feat that is quite good for a winger especially at his age. He’s also part of a select group of players(From Liga teams) who can say they’ve scored against Barcelona, an equalising goal in his first match of the 2011/12 season.

His international career has yet to take flight as he has been overlooked on a few occasions due to playing in Spain. Thus far he has only made four appearances for the French U/21 team, but again, like others on this list, with his progression continuing as it is, he will be called up for France soon enough.

Brek Shea

Brek Shea earning an MLS All-Star spot.

Brek Shea is a player most will be unfamiliar with, but he his undoubtedly America’s biggest and best U/21 talent. He has been playing for FC Dallas since being drafted in 2008, and he was the second overall draft of MLS SuperDraft. He has made 77 appearances for Dallas and has scored 16 goals with a majority of those being stunners.

His exceptional MLS form has earned him nine caps for the United States national team where he has been a fresh source of inspiration and creativity down the flank. All that’s left for Shea to do is make the move to a European club, which is sure to happen sooner rather than later. Shea is currently training with Arsenal, along with Thierry Henry, during the MLS off-season and only time will tell if he’ll be staying in London.

So that’s it for the top 5 midfielders and top 5 wingers list in part 2 of Young Guns. Stay tuned for Part 3 of Young Guns featuring the top 5 U/21 defenders in the world. Please feel free to leave us a comment with your thoughts on the list.