top 10 players

i got this from Sportsmail..it's an article about young prodigies who have made their appearances in the English League by storm. alright, starting from no. 10,

10 Alan Smith

Smith made a dramatic start to his career with Leeds by scoring on his debut against Liverpool, shortly after turning 19 in November 1998. He went on to become a key figure in the team that very nearly won the Champions League when he was 20. Moved to Manchester United after Leed's relegation and is now with Newcastle United in the Championship.

No 10: Alan Smith

No 9: Nicolas Anelka

9 Nicolas Anelka

Made an immediate impact on the Premier League after his move to Arsenal from Paris Saint-Germain as a 17-year-old in February 1997. His performances in his second season saw him pick up the PFA Young Player of the Year Award. A tour around a number of European clubs - which included stints at Manchester City and Liverpool - has come to an end with a settled position in the Chelsea team.

8 Joe Cole

A player that got everyone very excited when he burst on to the scene as a 17-year-old in 1998. The most skilful young midfielder the country had seen since Paul Gascoigne was instantly loved in east London, but relegation in 2003 deemed he would leave in the season he was voted West Ham's Player of the Year. Enjoying success with Chelsea and, if he can stay injury-free, should feature in Fabio Capello's squad for next summer's World Cup.

No 8: Joe Cole

No 7: Rio Ferdinand

7 Rio Ferdinand

A West Ham academy player that turned into an international star - a story we've repeated quite a few times in compiling this List. Ferdinand was a star over at the Boleyn Ground from his first kick and after the 1997-98 season, Ferdinand won the Hammer of the Year award at 19. Now a hero for Manchester United and a regular with England.

6 Cristiano Ronaldo

The prodigious talent the Portuguese displayed was such that it persuaded Sir Alex Ferguson to shell out £12.24million for the 18-year-old in 2003. He soon became one of the most skilful and powerful players the Premier League has ever seen. Moved to Real Madrid for a world record £80m last summer after winning it all at Old Trafford.

No 6: Cristiano Ronaldo

No 5: Cesc Fabregas

5 Cesc Fabregas

There may be just a litle annoyance over in Barcelona after letting the 16-year-old Fabregas leave on a free in 2003. Made his debut for Arsenal aged 16 years and 177 days to became Arsenal's youngest ever first-team player and then youngest goalscorer in their history with a strike in the League Cup. Has since gone on to become one of the most accomplished midfielder's in Gunners history.

4 Robbie Fowler

Known as God on the Kop, for a very simple reason: he scored goals and buckets of them from the moment he first pulled on Liverpool's red jersey aged 18. For example he scored five in just his second first-team appearance in 1993. Has continued to score goals wherever he has gone and is currently knocking them in for North Queensland Fury in Australia.

No 4: Robbie Fowler

No 3: Ryan Giggs

3 Ryan Giggs

The most exceptional professional he's worked with at Old Trafford is the emphatic endorsement Giggs received from Sir Alex Ferguson. And Giggs deserves it. The most decorated player in English football history made such an impact on the Premier League that he won the PFA Young Player if the year Award in consecutive seasons 1992/93 and 1993/94. Now 35, he's still at United - where else?

2 Michael Owen

Owen announced his name to the football world when he received the ball from David Beckham, skipped past Roberto Ayala and Jose Chamot then cut the ball across Carlos Roa in goal to finish off an astounding goal. The fact that this happened at the 1998 World Cup Finals and he was only 18 years old made it all the more dramatic. Suffered a miserably with injuries but now back in the big time with Manchester United.

No 2: Michael Owen

No 1: Wayne Rooney

1 Wayne Rooney

Every country needs a hero, a supply of footballing geniuses who bring hopes and dreams to a new generation, convincing us that the next World Cup really can be ours. Right now that man is Wayne Rooney.

Just 16, he was brought to our attention in the most dramatic of fashions with a late, late winner against Arsenal in October 2002 and became the BBC Young Sports Personality of the Year soon after.

His talent soon grew so quickly that it was obvious he needed to be at a bigger club and a £26m move to United meant that the boy who said he would always a blue became a red.

Continues to improve and his desire to not just win but dominate games single-handedly makes us think that, with South Africa just around the corner, 'what if.'