This is some good company to be in
The Uefa Youth League final takes place tonight in Geneva, and while Chelsea and Shakhtar Donetsk are the sides contesting the decider, the Under-19 tournament has been a huge success and given us a glimpse of many of the stars of the future.
To that end, Bleacher Report have ranked the top 50 players to feature in the competition this season, and Irish midfielder Jack Byrne comes in a very respectable 39th.
The Dubliner, who turns 19 this month, shone in the heart of Manchester City’s side, and the rankings are full of praise, even if they mark him out as a hothead (sure when has that ever been a problem for an Irish midfielder?):
He moves freely and gracefully and has shown adeptness for finding space on the pitch to receive the ball. He’s never shy to take it under pressure and has excelled playing as a flat central midfielder linking the lines.
The one downside is he’s a bit of a hothead. He can get upset quickly and found himself walking the disciplinary tightrope in the knockout stages. In total, he scored six goals in eight starts—a very healthy return.
Byrne is one of four City players to make the list, while Liverpool have also have four and Arsenal three, including 17-year-old midfielder Dan Crowley, who has represented Ireland at youth level but is currently in the England ranks, at number one.
Chelsea, though, dominate the list with ten entries, giving us all an early glimpse of Vitesse Arnhem’s 2017-2018 line-up.
