Ranked: Championship’s 10 best young players - including Bristol City, Sunderland and Burnley stars

Bristol City have had a positive start to the season and a a huge part of it is down to the form of their young stars, who are more than holding their own.

The Robins haven’t been afforded the riches of their Championship counterparts but what they do have is an academy system that is bearing fruits and filling in the gaps.

City didn’t purchase a player from July 5 onwards whilst others rushed to the tills for some late buys or loans on deadline day, but Nigel Pearson has managed to work with the players at his disposal, getting the best out of them.

A 3-2 win against Blackburn Rovers put them into the play-off picture and are going into their game against Preston North End, are just two points off of the automatic spots.

Once again, City’s man-of-the-moment was Tommy Conway who found the target for the sixth time this season, making him the top scorer of the club.

He along with Alex Scott are two Robins player which are ranking highest right now when it comes to the Championship’s best young players.

A player that is either 21-years-old or younger is what constitutes a younger player these days following the decision to revert development games back to the Under-21 set-up.

Based on the metrics provided by WhoScored, who are partnered with the Championship for weekly, monthly and annual awards, it comes out for good reading.

City’s star boy Scott is the fifth best young player so far whilst Conway isn’t far behind in seventh. Scott has been played as both a right wing-back, a central midfielder and as a supporting midfielder to the multiple front pairings this campaign.

Conway meanwhile has taken his chance this season, having scored a brace against Coventry City in the Carabao Cup, he hasn’t looked back, transferring it into league form.

Consistency was an issue last season with back-to-back wins hard to come by but with eight games played that doesn’t seem to be an issue as they ride the wave of a good run of early season form.

Ahead of them is Sunderland’s Jack Clarke, who’s three assists and two goals has given him an impressive rating of 7.56, whilst Watford’s Joao Pedro who was linked with a move to Newcastle United is just behind him on 7.54.

Other players include Burnley duo Taylor Harwood-Bellis, on loan from Manchester City and his teammate Ian Maatsen.

Championship’s best young players so far as rated by WhoScored

Jack Clarke - 7.56

Joao Pedro - 7.54

Charlie Cresswell - 7.19

Ellis Simms - 7.19

Alex Scott - 7.11

Taylor Harwood-Bellis - 7.08

Tommy Conway - 7.02

Andrew Omonbamidele - 6.97

Ian Maatsen - 6.93

Jacob Greaves - 6.80