Five contenders for the Young Player of the Year Award

As the Premier League season enters into its final month, talk is turning to the end of season awards. 

Mohamed Salah is the outright favourite to take home the PFA Player of the Year Award, with the Egyptian top of the charts for both goals and assists.

The battle for the  Young Player of the Year contest is likely to be a much closer affair, however, with a number of players tipped to win the prestigious trophy.

The likes of Eden Hazard, Cristiano Ronaldo and Harry Kane are all previous winners of the award, but who will be adding their name to the illustrious list of winners this year?

Here, we take a look at five contenders for the award.

Phil Foden

The Man City star won the award last year, and is among the favourites to regain his title this time around. The Englishman has been in sensational form for the Citizens, and could yet finish the season by adding a fourth Premier League title to his impressive trophy haul. The 21-year-old has eight goals and three assists so far this term, but few would bet against him adding to those tallies in the final weeks of the season.

Bukayo Saka

Arsenal star Saka has been arguably the Gunners’ standout performer so far this season, driving Mikel Arteta’s side’s push for the Champions League spots. The England international has scored 11 goals so far this season, and also registered five assists. While he may not be in with a chance of lifting the Premier League trophy at the end of the season, the forward has undoubtedly been one of the division’s best young players.

Saka has been crucial to much of Arsenal’s success under Arteta

Conor Gallagher

Arguably the surprise package of the season so far, Gallagher has been a revelation for Crystal Palace during his first season in the top flight. The 22-year-old, who made his England senior debut earlier this year, has scored eight goals and provided three assists, but his impact on Patrick Vieira’s side has far excelled that. The midfielder has added grit and relentless running to the Eagles’ midfield, and looks set to return and become part of Thomas Tuchel’s squad at parent club Chelsea next season.

Tyrick Mitchell

Another youngster who was handed an England debut by Gareth Southgate earlier this year, Mitchell has established himself as Palace’s first choice left-back this term. The full-back has played a huge part in the success of an Eagles backline that has conceded fewer goals than Manchester United, Newcastle and Leicester. Mitchell may be an outsider for the award, but he is certainly in with a chance having enjoyed a breakthrough season in south London.

Mitchell has enjoyed a breakthrough season at Selhurst Park

Emile Smith-Rowe

Another of Mikel Arteta’s young Gunners, Smith-Rowe has reached double figures for goals this season. The forward has also made his England debut last year, and scored his first goal for the Three Lions shortly after. Together with Saka and Martin Odegaard, Smith-Rowe has propelled Arsenal into the driving seat in the race for a top four spot.

While Foden may be the favourite to take home the prestigious YPOTY award, the likes of Saka and Gallagher especially will certainly have something to say about it. With plenty to play for in the closing weeks of the season, could an outsider make his case for the trophy?