The only players younger than 23 to score 10 or more Premier League goals last season were all English. Alongside Arsenal's Bukayo Saka, 19, were Mason Mount, 22, and Emile Smith-Rowe, 21.
Chelsea's Mount recorded 11 goals and 10 assists, both personal bests for him, whilst Saka also scored 11 times, assisting seven. Smith-Rowe's true breakout season saw him score five times more goals than he did in 2020/21, but with just two assists.
These impressive figures have led to all three youngsters being involved for Gareth Southgate's England squads over the course of last season. Mount and Saka were both regulars, making 10 and nine appearances for the Three Lions last season respectively, whilst Smith Rowe made his debut in November, playing three matches and starting one before a poor end to the season and he was used in the U21 squad in the last set of Nations League fixtures.
READ MORE: Arsenal already have Youri Tielemans alternative after Arteta admission and it's not Zinchenko
Both Saka and Mount are almost certain to be a part of the winter World Cup squad that Southgate picks later this year, Smith-Rowe will face a battle to be included. Six of the top 15 scorers in the league last season were English and the former Middlesbrough boss has a plethora of other attacking options at his disposal.
The exciting midfielder is also behind on his preseason preparation due an injury which has delayed his fitness and match sharpness. That hasn't stopped him from learning ahead of the new campaign though, and he has an area that he's focusing on: “I need to keep improving my stats because I didn’t really get many assists last season," admitted Smith-Rowe.
"I've been studying, watching games and clips. Seeing where I should have passed it, or the timing of my passes, and where I can create more chances. Obviously not just me, watching other players in the league as well. I’ve been watching footage of Kevin De Bruyne, Bernardo Silva, Bruno Fernandes and Mason Mount to see what those creative players are doing."
Mount, who was the joint third-best assister last season, had more than all of De Bruyne, Silva and Fernandes in the league, but was four short of the Belgian's 15 goals. The versatile midfielder has added goal contributions to his game this season and has been on target four times for his country as well. It's an example that Smith-Rowe wants to follow in order to stake a claim for the Qatar-bound squad:
“The World Cup is definitely a target but first of all I want to get as fit as I can to get as many minutes as possible to show what I can do. I’m proud of last season because I signed my new contract and made my debut for England."
READ NEXT:
