Marcus Rashford's name has been splashed over the back pages after his incredible impact at Man Utd - but the next English goal machine may actually be going under the radar at Chelsea.
Despite two UEFA Youth League titles and consecutive FA Youth Cup triumphs with the Blues, Tammy Abraham is still unknown to the vast majority.
London-born and with Chelsea's academy since the age of 8, the rangy Abraham has been simply unstoppable at youth level, both at home and abroad. Already approaching 100 youth appearances for the West Londoners, the striker has scored 68 goals across three age groups: the U18s, U19s and U21s - and bagged a goal in Chelsea's FA Youth Cup final win against Man City last night.
Many hoped Abraham would feature in the senior set-up at Stamford Bridge this season after an impressive 41 goals in 44 games in 2014/15. However, one year and 22 goals (in 33 games) later and Abraham is no closer to seeing senior game time.
Red Devil Rashford, in comparison, has taken to senior competition like a rather rapid duck to water, which begs the question: how would Abraham - far more successful and prolific at youth level - fare if similarly introduced.
Prior to his Europa League breakthrough at United, Rashford had scored 29 goals in 72 games for the Red Devils at youth level - his 40% strike rate paling in comparison with Abraham's lethal 72%.
Even within England's youth set-up, Abraham has outperformed Rashford. While Abraham has starred for his country at U18 and U19 level - scoring 7 goals in 15 games - Rashford has made a belated and quiet start with the Three Lions, making 3 appearances for England's U20s without hitting the net.
Questions naturally arise about Chelsea's youth policy, and when, if ever, they will blood the youngsters conquering Europe's junior ranks. The list of potential first teamers is ever growing: Izzy Brown, Lewis Baker and Dominic Solanke were all praised to the gills by Jose Mourinho last season, but eventually shipped out on loan to Dutch side Vitesse.
Abraham is arguably not even the biggest talent within Chelsea's current crop of youngsters. Defenders Jay Da Silva and Jake Clarke-Salter, for example, can now be mentioned in the same breath as Manchester United legends Bobby Charlton and Duncan Edwards, who are two of only seven players (including Da Silva and Clarke-Salter) to win three consecutive FA Youth Cup titles.
If you reflect on the fact that Chelsea may be producing talent of the same ilk as Charlton and Edwards', it becomes clear that the pedigree of those coming through the Blues' academy may be unparallelled in the modern game.
Players to win 3 cons #FAYouthCup titles
— playmakerstats (@playmaker_EN) April 27, 2016
Bobby Charlton
Wilf McGuinness
Duncan Edwards
JAY DA SILVA
JAKE CLARKE-SALTER#CFCU18 #CFC #MUFC
With Chelsea's season in ruins from well before Christmas, the Blue's reluctance to integrate their youth stars - aside from 'veteran' youth product Ruben Loftus-Cheek - borders on the baffling.
Columbian striker Falcao has sunk without a trace and Brazilian Pato brought in with very limited impact, while Abraham (16 in 16) like Dominic Solanke before him (18 in 16) have torn up the FA Youth Cup, a competition that launched the careers of Michael Owen and Wayne Rooney. Would Chelsea have been wiser to give youth its head?
In recent weeks, there has been a glimmer of hope for Chelsea's current crop of young guns with highly-rated Kasey Palmer (we hadn't even mentioned him) in Guus Hiddink's squad for the last two Premier League games.
Only time will tell if Antonio Conte has the courage to blood Abraham and his stellar team-mates - for further encouragement he need only look north at Rashford's progress.
3-1 | ||
Dujon Sterling 45' Tammy Abraham 54' Fikayo Tomori 72' | Brahim Díaz 89' |