A selection of talented stars emerging from West London’s clubs

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For the vast majority of football fans, seeing an up-and-coming talent progress through the ranks and eventually into the first-team fold is a beautiful thing. Alongside the likes of Liverpool’s Harvey Elliott, who is one of the youngest players in Premier League history, there is a selection of talented players from some of West London’s finest clubs that are aiming to showcase their aptitude in the season ahead. 

So far, given that the campaign is well and truly underway, there are some remarkably skilled youngsters that are nailing down a place already, while others are demonstrating their immense potential when being given a chance to shine off the bench. Academy football is certainly seeing a conveyor belt of prestigious talents coming through, with West London’s clubs, such as QPR and Chelsea, having a well-respected setup that has produced a number of established stars in recent times. Many of the clubs in this part of the country have excellent recruitment too, snapping up talented prospects from other sides as they aim to aid their progression and uncover a gem for the future. Now, with a new batch emerging, let’s assess a selection of talented stars from some of West London’s finest clubs. 

Conor Gallagher – Chelsea 

An obvious pick, now back at Chelsea after a fruitful spell on-loan at Crystal Palace last season, Conor Gallagher will be desperate to nail down a first-team spot at the Blues under new manager Graham Potter. After scoring his first goal for the club in a 2-1 win against Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park recently, the Epsom-born tireless midfielder will be hoping to help Chelsea mount a title challenge this season, although when assessing the Premier League odds, a top-four finish is probably a more realistic aim after being priced at 10/11. For Gallagher, standards have undoubtedly been raised, but he’s more than capable of taking it in his stride and reproducing the hugely impressive form he showcased at the Eagles last season. 

Matthew Cox – Brentford 

Despite David Raya holding down his spot as Brentford’s number one goalkeeper, the Bees have high hopes for his potential successor, Matthew Cox. After committing his long-term future to the club, the former AFC Wimbledon academy graduate is expected to put pressure on his Spanish rival in the not too distant future. For Cox, patiently waiting in the wings and warming Premier League benches is probably enough for now, but the UEFA European Under-19 Championships winner has the potential to take his chance should he get it. Scottish right-back, Aaron Hickey, is another bright spark aiming to stamp his authority on this Brentford side, too. Like Cox, Hickey hasn’t been with the Bees long after arriving from Italian side Bologna in the summer. With a number of impressive cameo appearances off the bench, Hickey is certainly one for the future. Aged just 20, the former Hearts prodigy has undoubted potential.

Tyler Roberts – QPR

Currently on-loan from Premier League club Leeds United, the acquisition of Tyler Roberts was met with plenty of excitement from Rangers fans. Thankfully, the 23-year-old has lived up to the hype so far, nailing down a spot in QPR’s side and shining on a regular basis. Michael Beale’s team have made an impressive start to the Championship campaign, with Roberts being one of the major plus points in the early stages of what will be a highly competitive season. Roberts isn’t the only relatively inexperienced player showcasing the evident talent they possess either, with Manchester United loanee Ethan Laird possessing bags of potential, alongside Aston Villa’s Tim Iroegbunam. The Shepherd’s Bush-based club have always provided a solid home for emerging youngsters to express themselves, and this season appears to be no different.