Ranked: Championship’s 20 best young players

Bristol City have developed an identity of giving young players a platform to shine in their team. The Robins have turned to their academy in recent years rather than recruiting players from other clubs or taking on loan players.

Several first-team players have come through the system and have taken their opportunity with both hands. Antoine Semenyo was signed as a SGS College student and four years after signing his first professional contract, he is World Cup bound with Ghana. The 22-year-old scored his first international goal earlier this week, netting against Switzerland.

It’s been Semenyo’s strike partner that has stolen the headlines in his absence for the first part of the season. Tommy Conway was crowned the EFL’s Best Young Player for the Month in August, and received international recognition for it. He was named in the Scotland Under-21’s squad and is on international duty. The 20-year-old has got six goals in 21 appearances this season.

Talented teenager Alex Scott is the name that is on everyone’s lips. The 19-year-old had a superb breakout year, playing 38 times with four goals and two assists. He’s yet to find the target this season but has supplied three goals. He is one of the most fouled players in the Championship for his tenacious dribbling.

The second tier is currently on pause for a three week break for the World Cup and the season is almost at the halfway point. Several young players have performed exceptionally and Sunderland lead the way with four players included in the top 20 for best-performing players.

Here we take a look at the best young players in the Championship. The criteria is that players are 21-years-old or younger and have played more than 10 league games so far.