Phil Foden, Reece James and Bukayo Saka among those leading Young Player of the Year chase

Phil Foden will be fancying his chances of winning a second successive award, but there are a number of other names from around the Premier League who would make worthy winners.

We take a look at the players who look set to contest the PFA Young Player of the Year voting.

Phil Foden (Manchester City)

Phil Foden won this last year and is favourite to become the first player since Dele Alli to claim consecutive Young Player of the Year awards.

If you are talking about Premier League numbers alone (six goals, three assists), Foden is lagging behind his product from last season, but you'd fancy him to bridge that gap between now and May.

However, there is no question that he has grown as a player in the last 12 months and now has a bigger influence on a quite brilliant Man City team than he did in 2020/21.

Those are ridiculously high standards to top, so the fact he has makes him a justifiable frontrunner to win the award.

Conor Gallagher (Crystal Palace)

If you had to pick one player who has made the biggest obvious improvement since this time last season, you would have to pinpoint Conor Gallagher.

The midfielder got his first taste of Premier League football last season with West Brom and he looked a handy player.

This season, though, he has looked like an absolute world-beater while on loan at Crystal Palace. Of course, he is playing in a better team, but he has also improved them.

Gallagher has caught the eye with his goalscoring more than anything, with his seven goals eclipsing the two he scored in the whole of 2020/21. He has also contributed three assists - again an improvement on his previous campaign.

He has been so good it would be a genuine surprise not to see him in Chelsea's midfield next season.

Reece James (Chelsea)

If Reece James had not done his hamstring at the start of the year, there is every chance he would already have had this award sewn up.

James was electric for Chelsea in the early part of the season and appeared to have found another level to his game since returning from Euro 2020.

Injury has restricted James to just 14 Premier League starts this season, but he certainly made them count with five assists and four goals - pretty sensational stats for a defender.

Emile Smith Rowe (Arsenal)

There was some talk of Emile Smith Rowe leaving Arsenal last summer after growing frustrated with limited opportunities, but what a mistake that would have been.

Instead of cashing in, the Gunners put their faith in Smith Rowe, handing him the number 10 shirt and making him the fulcrum of their attack.

He has repaid them with a hugely impressive season, scoring eight goals in just 14 starts and six substitute appearances.

He also has six assists and on top of that he made a goalscoring full debut for England - all achieved without picking up a single yellow card.

There would be few complaints if he were to win the award.

Bukayo Saka (Arsenal)

Bukayo Saka was one of the brightest stars of the summer for England at Euro 2020 and he has continued in that vein for Arsenal this season.

That shouldn't detract from a fine season, though.

Jacob Ramsey (Aston Villa)

Despite that, he remains unpolished, particularly when compared to the bigger names in contention for this award.

Callum Hudson-Odoi (Chelsea)

He has been a little more involved for Chelsea this season, making more starts (10) in the Premier League than any of his previous campaigns.

In terms of product, that has translated to two assists and one goal, which is a little underwhelming given the players around him.

Hudson-Odoi is by no means a frontrunner for Young Player of the Year, and nor should he be, but at the same time he is regularly involved for one of the best teams in the country, so he deserves to be in the discussion.

Valentino Livramento (Southampton)

Few people had heard of Valentino Livramento when Southampton paid Chelsea £5million for the youngster last summer.

The 19-year-old full-back was Chelsea's academy player of the year in 2020/21, which is no mean feat given the quality they possess in their ranks.

Jadon Sancho (Manchester United)

Asked to pick the Young Player of the Year ahead of the season, the majority would have plumped for Sancho

However, there is no getting away from the fact that he has disappointed for Manchester United.

Thirteen starts and two goals from an attacking player who cost £73million and plays for one of the biggest clubs in the world is just not good enough, is it?

He's shown signs of improvement recently, but there are no awards for that.

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