Harvey Vale

Vale offers a rare mix of attacking quality and defensive discipline that has let managers use him in more than one role. He was most strikingly deployed at left back during a loan spell, where his manager drew a direct comparison to a genuine Chelsea great for his energy and reliability. That willingness to fill whatever gap a team needs, rather than insist on one fixed position, has made him increasingly hard to leave out once he finds any kind of form.

The tension worth watching is whether that versatility becomes a defined role rather than simply useful cover. A player who can cover several positions can just as easily end up a squad option rather than an undisputed starter. Captaining his country's youth side suggests the leadership is already there, so how consistently he plays may matter more than where he actually lines up.