The 5 young players to watch ahead of the 2015-2016 Premier League season.

With the Premier League season nearly upon us, the nerves and anticipation return to fans up and down the country. In amongst the clutch of new signings hoping to establish themselves there are those young players believing it could be their year to break through into the starting eleven.

Here are five young players that may just be right in thinking this will be the year they become a first-team regular.

Rolando Aarons - Newcastle United.
Signed from Bristol City as a teenager, Aarons has pace and tricks in abundance. First entering the radar of Newcastle fans during last summer’s pre-season campaign, his season was ultimately disrupted by injury.

However when he was on the field he performed well. Netting in the Premier League during a home draw against Crystal Palace, he added to that with a fantastic individual effort against Manchester City in the Capital One Cup.

Currently in the final year of his contract with Newcastle, the club are desperate to secure his long-term future and have already begun discussions with him.

A direct and fast winger that thrives in one on one situations, Aarons is very much what Newcastle have been crying out for out wide. Eager to put in crosses, his play would be the perfect compliment to big money summer signing Aleksandar Mitrovic.

Blessed with the opportunity and talent to shine, the Magpies will no doubt be hoping he agrees his contract extension first.

James Wilson - Manchester United
To describe Wilson’s senior debut for Manchester United as a dream start would be an understatement. A comfortable 3-1 win against Hull City saw him net a brace and validate the views of many United fans that had tipped him for success.

A poacher with a fantastic touch and composure, the striker struggled to kick on after his debut but is still only 19-years-old.

Interestingly, when Louis Van Gaal decided to sell teammate Danny Welbeck to Arsenal he referenced Wilson as being part of the reason he chose to sanction the deal.

Quite the compliment for the young striker to receive, now could be the perfect time for him to cement his place in the first team. Undergoing a period of transition with their strikers, if he can find the net in the first few weeks of the season he could convince Van Gaal that he is not in need of reinforcements, entrusting him with a more regular role instead.

Jordon Ibe - Liverpool

A talented youngster signed from Wycombe Wanderers, Jordon Ibe made tentative steps into the first team last season.

Enjoying a loan spell at Derby County during the 2014-2015 season, Ibe is an incisive dribbler that loves to run at defenders. Able to do so with tight control and good technique he is the perfect player for Brendan Rodgers’ style of play.

Off the pitch he is incredibly grounded and agreed a new contract without the use of an agent. “I don’t believe in having an agent,” Ibe explained. “I don’t really see the need for one to be fair.“

Music to the ears of Liverpool fans, in the absence of Raheem Sterling there will be a spot in the starting eleven that Ibe would seem primed to take.

Thriving during the club’s pre-season match against HJK Helsinki, betting on Ibe to start Liverpool’s season opener against Stoke City seems a wise bet.

Duncan Watmore - Sunderland
A tricky and dangerous winger, there has been a consistent buzz on Wearside surrounding Duncan Watmore.

Signed from Conference Premier side Altrincham in 2013, he made his debut for the first team during an FA Cup win over Carlisle in January 2014. Possessing excellent technique and ball carrying abilities, he has proven dangerous in front of goal for the club’s U21 team - scoring 11 goals in 18 appearances.

There was tentative talk of him being handed his Premier League debut towards the end of last season under Dick Advocaat, with Watmore himself admitting in May he was aiming to break through this season.

With Sunderland struggling to secure much in the way of attacking reinforcements this summer, that could open the door and grant Watmore’s wish. Highly regarded by the club’s staff he was recently named the Barclay’s Under 21 Premier League Player of the Season for 2014-2015.

Jason Denayer - Manchester City
A talented Belgian defender City acquired from Anderlecht, Jason Denayer recently signed a new five-year-deal after a fantastic season on loan at Celtic.

Named in the Scottish PFA Team of the Year, the 20-year-old also collected the PFA Scotland Young Player of the Year award during a strong season in Glasgow. Commended for his composure on the ball and ability to play out from the back Denayer also celebrated a senior international debut for Belgium earlier this year.

Returning to City this summer, the club opted to sell Kerim Rekik to Marseille and bring the Belgian into the first team picture. Performing well when called upon, the former Anderlecht youth player looks like being one of the four centre-backs Manuel Pellegrini will take into the new season which means first team minutes are highly likely.

If he can forge a strong partnership with compatriot Vincent Kompany during that time, there is every chance the 20-year-old could go on to be a regular in the first team as big money signing Eliaquim Mangala continues to struggle.