PRE-SEASON is the perfect time for youngsters to catch the eye of their manager and take a step closer to their dream of breaking into the first-team.
International duty, holidays and injuries often give hot prospects the chance to get a run out in the first XI during their warm-up games.
Most youngsters trying to break through are completely unknown to fans – often even to supporters of their own club.
But others step out onto the pitch already more famous than many established professional players.
SunSport takes a look at five players tipped for a breakout season who boast legendary names on their shirts thanks to their Premier League fathers…
Romeo Beckham
IT’S been an interesting road to the Premier League for Romeo, the second-eldest of David and Victoria’s four kids.
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He briefly featured for Arsenal’s Academy in 2014-15 before turning his back on football after being released.
Romeo, 20, started working with Andy Murray in a bid to break into the tennis world.
But in 2020, he rocked up at Inter Miami, looking to follow in his father’s footsteps.
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Last season, Romeo spent the second-half of the season on loan at Brentford B.
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Now the winger has signed a permanent deal with the West Londoners and is hoping to break into Thomas Frank’s first XI.
Romeo even dropped a major hint he will make the step up from the Bees’ Bs in 2023-24.
Charlie Savage
THE son of another ex-Manchester United player, Charlie Savage is well on his way to emulating dad Robbie’s success.
The two-cap Wales Under-21 international has already played once for the first-team, coming off the bench in the Champions League in December 2021.
After struggling to break into the senior squad permanently, the midfielder was sent out on loan to Forest Green Rovers last season.
Despite impressing in League One, he was unable to prevent them from being relegated under Everton legend Duncan Ferguson.
Savage, 20, is now on the brink of joining League One side Reading on a permanent deal in his bid to finally get some consistent first-team action.
D’Margio Wright-Phillips
WITH a famous father and even more famous grandfather, D’Margio Wright-Phillips has some serious shoes to fill.
The son of Shaun Wright-Phillips and grandson of Arsenal legend Ian Wright, D’Margio is carving a career for himself at Stoke.
The winger, 21, has made 20 senior appearances for the Potters – scoring twice – but was sent out on loan for the second half of last season.
D’Margio helped Northampton Town gain automatic promotion to League One, playing seven times.
But having failed to trouble the scorers, the forward will be hoping for a consistent crack in the first-team – either at the bet365 Stadium or elsewhere – at a huge juncture in his career.
Freddie Potts
THE son of West Ham great Steve, Freddie – and brother of Luton ace Dan – has already been making headlines this pre-season.
With Declan Rice sold to Arsenal for a British record £105m, Potts started the Hammers’ first game without their former captain.
The midfielder started his side’s pre-season friendly win over Tottenham in Perth, Australia.
Potts joined West Ham aged six and made his first-team debut in December 2021 as a substitute in the 1-0 loss against Dinamo Zagreb in the Europa League.
He has made three senior appearances in total after playing twice in the run to Conference League glory last season.
And his path to the first-team has been blown wide open with Rice no longer at David Moyes’ disposal.
Steve played over 500 times for West Ham between 1984 and 2001.
Liam Delap
THE Manchester City forward, 20, is the son of Stoke’s long-throw legend Rory – a man who famously struck fear into Gunners legend Arsene Wenger.
Delap has scored once in six games under Pep Guardiola, but has been loaned out to Preston and the Potters in recent seasons.
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For 2023-24, the hotshot is spending a season at Hull in a bid to finally play some regular football after just 37 appearances in the last two seasons in the Championship.
Another season in the second tier could be just what Liam needs to burst onto the scene.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
