Alfie Lloyd

Lloyd came through the academy system and was rated highly enough to earn a lengthy contract extension while still establishing himself in the side. That vote of confidence does not usually go to a fringe striker without good reason behind it. His breakthrough moment arrived late against Sheffield Wednesday, a stoppage time equaliser that showed he can stay composed exactly when a younger forward is most likely to panic under pressure. Since then he has been sent out repeatedly to gain senior experience in the lower divisions instead.

The obvious tension is game time, since a forward learning his trade needs regular matches far more than occasional headline moments. Injuries have interrupted more than one of his loan spells before real momentum could properly build. Whether those loans eventually produce a forward ready for a genuine role back home is still the honest open question hanging over him.