RYAN GIGGS - MANCHESTER UNITED
The Welsh winger was just breaking into the side at Old Trafford when the Premier League started in 1992, and he quickly became its first teenage poster-boy, overshadowing team-mate Lee Sharpe and helping United to win the title. He also made a name for himself by scoring spectacular goals with mazy dribbles and stunning free kicks. While injuries affected him in years to come, he remains a fixture at United and has won pretty much everything there is to be won in the game. He is still the benchmark for how young stars should be handled to help them avoid the pitfalls of fame and burn-out. DARREN ANDERTON - TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR The young winger seemed to have the world at his feet after dazzling top flight defenses in a Cup run with Portsmouth, so it was no surprise when Tottenham Hotspur snapped him up in 1992 for £1.75m. Unfortunately, his career since then has been plagued by a succession of long absences through injuries, earning him the unwanted nickname of 'Sicknote'. He now plays for Wolverhampton Wanderers, having earned 30 caps for England, without ever being able to live up to his early potential. ROBBIE FOWLER - LIVERPOOL
One of the first young hotshots to break onto the scene, Robbie Fowler made his debut for Liverpool aged 18 in a Coca-Cola Cup tie at Fulham in September 1993, and marked it with a goal. Two weeks later, he did even better, smashing four past the Cottagers in the second leg in front of an already adoring Anfield crowd. He scored the Premier League's fastest-ever hat-trick in 4 minutes 32 seconds against Arsenal during the 1994/95 season, then picked up the PFA Young Player of the Year award at the end of a campaign. Injuries started to take their toll however, and he now struggles to get into the Manchester City side, despite scoring another hat-trick on his return in the FA Cup last weekend.
MICHAEL OWEN - LIVERPOOL
Like Robbie Fowler before him, Owen made an immediate impact for Liverpool by scoring on his debut in a 2-1 league defeat at Wimbledon at the end of the 1996/97 season. If he was a promising young talent then, he was an international superstar a year later, after scoring 23 goals for the Reds, including two hat-tricks, and making it into the England squad for the World Cup. Like Beckham, he made his name against Argentina, but Owen was noticed for more positive reasons, scoring a wonder-goal. Since then he has had a frustrating year in Spain with Real Madrid before returning to England with Newcastle United last summer. DANNY CADAMARTERI - EVERTON
Everton's original Premiership wonderkid, Danny Cadamarteri broke into the team in 1997, aged 17, and became a fans favourite by scoring four goals in seven games early in the 1997/98 season. He was born in Bradford, but was eligible to play for England, Nigeria, Italy, Ireland, Scotland or Jamaica at international level. He chose England, but never got the chance as off-pitch troubles overshadowed his increasingly less impressive contributions for Everton. He left in 2002 to join Bradford and after spells at Leeds and Sheffield United, is back there now.
FRANCIS JEFFERS - EVERTON
Followed Cadamarteri into the Everton side and soon became more the famous of the pair, showing a predatory instinct in the box that made him the darling of Goodison Park until a contract row soured his relationship with the fans. In 2001 he moved to Arsenal for £8m, but the move proved to be a big mistake, with Jeffers starting just four games in three years at Highbury, while he also had a brief and unimpressive spell back at Everton on loan. Now at Charlton Athletic, but seemingly surplus to requirements. STEVEN GERRARD - LIVERPOOL
Like so many young stars, Steven Gerrard has had more than his fair share of injury problems since bursting onto the scene in 1998, and at various stages it has looked like his career would be blighted by them. However, in the last few years, he has shaken off those worries to blossom into a crucial player for club and country, inspiring Liverpool to their famous Champions League triumph last summer and scoring many crucial goals along the way. JERMAINE PENNANT - ARSENAL
Caused a sensation when he signed for the Gunners from Notts County for £2m in 1999, aged just 15. He spent time on loan at Watford before getting the chance to shine in the top flight on loan to troubled Leeds in 2003/04. He did very well in difficult circumstances at Elland Road, and looked like he would be able to force his way into the Arsenal side when he returned to Highbury. Unfortunately that never happened, and a series of problems off the field, culminating in a drink-driving charge, led to a rapid exit from Highbury, with Pennant signing for Birmingham in 2005. JERMAINE JENAS - NEWCASTLE UNITED
Very highly-rated in a talented young Notts Forest side, Jermaine Jenas was expected to set the Premiership alight when he joined Newcastle for £5m in 2002, but has so far struggled at times to live up to his billing. He had some great games and scored some great goals with the Magpies, but also had too many anonymous appearances. However, Sven Goran Eriksson is keen on him, having handed him 28 caps already, and the youngster has begun to fulfill his potential in recent months with Spurs. SHAUN WRIGHT-PHILLIPS - MANCHESTER CITY
Ian Wright's adopted son joined City after being released by Nottingham Forest for being too small, and he certainly hasn't let his lack of physical stature get in the way of his career ever since. He became a real favorite with the fans at Maine Road and then Eastlands with his surging runs and spectacular goals, earning himself a place in the England squad. However, since leaving City to join Chelsea, first team football has been rather more scarce... WAYNE ROONEY - EVERTON
Rooney literally exploded onto the scene for Everton in October 2002 when he smashed a dramatic late winner against champions Arsenal in a 2-1 victory at Goodison Park. He made his England debut later that season in a match against Australia, and has been a mainstay of the national team ever since, particularly impressing at Euro 2004 until his tournament was cut short by injury. Moved to Manchester United and scored a Champions League hat-trick on his debut. Is expected to play a hugely important role for England at this year's World Cup.
The Welsh winger was just breaking into the side at Old Trafford when the Premier League started in 1992, and he quickly became its first teenage poster-boy, overshadowing team-mate Lee Sharpe and helping United to win the title. He also made a name for himself by scoring spectacular goals with mazy dribbles and stunning free kicks. While injuries affected him in years to come, he remains a fixture at United and has won pretty much everything there is to be won in the game. He is still the benchmark for how young stars should be handled to help them avoid the pitfalls of fame and burn-out. DARREN ANDERTON - TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR The young winger seemed to have the world at his feet after dazzling top flight defenses in a Cup run with Portsmouth, so it was no surprise when Tottenham Hotspur snapped him up in 1992 for £1.75m. Unfortunately, his career since then has been plagued by a succession of long absences through injuries, earning him the unwanted nickname of 'Sicknote'. He now plays for Wolverhampton Wanderers, having earned 30 caps for England, without ever being able to live up to his early potential. ROBBIE FOWLER - LIVERPOOL
One of the first young hotshots to break onto the scene, Robbie Fowler made his debut for Liverpool aged 18 in a Coca-Cola Cup tie at Fulham in September 1993, and marked it with a goal. Two weeks later, he did even better, smashing four past the Cottagers in the second leg in front of an already adoring Anfield crowd. He scored the Premier League's fastest-ever hat-trick in 4 minutes 32 seconds against Arsenal during the 1994/95 season, then picked up the PFA Young Player of the Year award at the end of a campaign. Injuries started to take their toll however, and he now struggles to get into the Manchester City side, despite scoring another hat-trick on his return in the FA Cup last weekend.
Like Robbie Fowler before him, Owen made an immediate impact for Liverpool by scoring on his debut in a 2-1 league defeat at Wimbledon at the end of the 1996/97 season. If he was a promising young talent then, he was an international superstar a year later, after scoring 23 goals for the Reds, including two hat-tricks, and making it into the England squad for the World Cup. Like Beckham, he made his name against Argentina, but Owen was noticed for more positive reasons, scoring a wonder-goal. Since then he has had a frustrating year in Spain with Real Madrid before returning to England with Newcastle United last summer. DANNY CADAMARTERI - EVERTON
Everton's original Premiership wonderkid, Danny Cadamarteri broke into the team in 1997, aged 17, and became a fans favourite by scoring four goals in seven games early in the 1997/98 season. He was born in Bradford, but was eligible to play for England, Nigeria, Italy, Ireland, Scotland or Jamaica at international level. He chose England, but never got the chance as off-pitch troubles overshadowed his increasingly less impressive contributions for Everton. He left in 2002 to join Bradford and after spells at Leeds and Sheffield United, is back there now.
Followed Cadamarteri into the Everton side and soon became more the famous of the pair, showing a predatory instinct in the box that made him the darling of Goodison Park until a contract row soured his relationship with the fans. In 2001 he moved to Arsenal for £8m, but the move proved to be a big mistake, with Jeffers starting just four games in three years at Highbury, while he also had a brief and unimpressive spell back at Everton on loan. Now at Charlton Athletic, but seemingly surplus to requirements. STEVEN GERRARD - LIVERPOOL
Like so many young stars, Steven Gerrard has had more than his fair share of injury problems since bursting onto the scene in 1998, and at various stages it has looked like his career would be blighted by them. However, in the last few years, he has shaken off those worries to blossom into a crucial player for club and country, inspiring Liverpool to their famous Champions League triumph last summer and scoring many crucial goals along the way. JERMAINE PENNANT - ARSENAL
Caused a sensation when he signed for the Gunners from Notts County for £2m in 1999, aged just 15. He spent time on loan at Watford before getting the chance to shine in the top flight on loan to troubled Leeds in 2003/04. He did very well in difficult circumstances at Elland Road, and looked like he would be able to force his way into the Arsenal side when he returned to Highbury. Unfortunately that never happened, and a series of problems off the field, culminating in a drink-driving charge, led to a rapid exit from Highbury, with Pennant signing for Birmingham in 2005. JERMAINE JENAS - NEWCASTLE UNITED
Very highly-rated in a talented young Notts Forest side, Jermaine Jenas was expected to set the Premiership alight when he joined Newcastle for £5m in 2002, but has so far struggled at times to live up to his billing. He had some great games and scored some great goals with the Magpies, but also had too many anonymous appearances. However, Sven Goran Eriksson is keen on him, having handed him 28 caps already, and the youngster has begun to fulfill his potential in recent months with Spurs. SHAUN WRIGHT-PHILLIPS - MANCHESTER CITY
Ian Wright's adopted son joined City after being released by Nottingham Forest for being too small, and he certainly hasn't let his lack of physical stature get in the way of his career ever since. He became a real favorite with the fans at Maine Road and then Eastlands with his surging runs and spectacular goals, earning himself a place in the England squad. However, since leaving City to join Chelsea, first team football has been rather more scarce... WAYNE ROONEY - EVERTON
Rooney literally exploded onto the scene for Everton in October 2002 when he smashed a dramatic late winner against champions Arsenal in a 2-1 victory at Goodison Park. He made his England debut later that season in a match against Australia, and has been a mainstay of the national team ever since, particularly impressing at Euro 2004 until his tournament was cut short by injury. Moved to Manchester United and scored a Champions League hat-trick on his debut. Is expected to play a hugely important role for England at this year's World Cup.
