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Great expectations

Here are the Premier League's 10 youngest players ever

16-year-old Reece Oxford made his debut for West Ham against Arsenal at the weekend.

Updated at 14.32

10. Mark Platts – Sheffield Wednesday (16 years, 264 days)

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PLATTS MADE HIS debut for Sheffield Wednesday in 1996, coming on as a late substitute for Chris Waddle in the Owls’ 2-1 defeat of Wimbledon. He struggled to feature in the team regularly thereafter however, playing for Torquay United and Worksop Town before quitting football in 2001.

9. Jack Wilshere – Arsenal (16 years, 255 days)

Soccer - 2015 Emirates Cup - Arsenal v VfL Wolfsburg - Emirates Stadium John Walton John Walton

Wilshere made his Premier League debut in September 2008, coming on as an 84th-minute substitute for Robin van Persie against Blackburn. Following a successful loan stint against Bolton, he established himself in the Arsenal first team, though a series of injuries have curtailed his progress to a degree in recent years.

8. Jack Robinson – Liverpool (16 years, 250 days)

Soccer - Barclays Premier League - Liverpool v Birmingham City - Anfield EMPICS Sport EMPICS Sport

The left-back made his debut against Hull in 2010 and featured in the Premier League against Arsenal in April 2011, but never established himself as a first-team regular at Anfield. Following loan spells at Wolves and Blackpool, he joined QPR permanently, and spent last season on loan at Huddersfield.

7. Reece Oxford – West Ham (16 years, 236 days)

Soccer - Barclays Premier League - Arsenal v West Ham United - Emirates Stadium PA Wire / PA Images PA Wire / PA Images / PA Images

The central midfielder impressed in his debut against Arsenal at the weekend, and is being tipped as a future English international.

6. Gary McSheffrey – Coventry (16 years, 198 days)

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McSheffrey made his debut in Coventry’s 4-1 win over Aston Villa in February 1999. He has made over 200 appearances over the course of two spells at the club, and also spent four years at Birmingham. Now 32, he was a regular for League One club Scunthorpe United last season.

5. Jose Baxter – Everton (16 years, 191 days)

Soccer - Pre Season Friendly - Everton v Malaga - Goodison Park PA Archive / Press Association Images PA Archive / Press Association Images / Press Association Images

Came on to make his debut as a 78th minute substitute in the 2008-09 season against Blackburn. He later left Everton for Oldham after appearing just seven times for the Toffees, before joining current club Sheffield United in 2013.

4. Rushian Hepburn-Murphy – Aston Villa (16 years, 176 days)

Britain Soccer Premier League AP / Press Association Images AP / Press Association Images / Press Association Images

Still 16 and considered a bright prospect, Hepburn-Murphy made his one and only appearance so far for Villa last March, coming on as a substitute in final minutes of the 4-0 victory over Sunderland.

3. Aaron Lennon – Leeds (16 years, 128 days)

Soccer - Coca-Cola Football League Championship - Sheffield United v Leeds United Mike Egerton Mike Egerton

The speedy winger made his first-team bow for Leeds back in August 2003 against Tottenham. He joined Spurs two years later, and has made 267 appearances for the club, but is currently out of favour at White Hart Lane.

2. Izzy Brown – West Brom (16 years, 117 days)

Soccer - Barclays Premier League - West Bromwich Albion v Chelsea - The Hawthorns PA Archive / Press Association Images PA Archive / Press Association Images / Press Association Images

Now 18, Chelsea player Brown made his Premier League debut in May 2013 while playing for West Brom. He then appeared for Chelsea in the 3-0 loss against his former club last May, and subsequently agreed another loan move to Dutch club Vitesse in June.

1. Matthew Briggs – Fulham (16 years, 68 days)

Soccer - UEFA Europa League - Third Qualifying Round - Second Leg - Fulham v RNK Split - Craven Cottage EMPICS Sport EMPICS Sport

Left-back Briggs made his first Premier League appearance for Fulham against Middlesbrough in 2007. Despite being highly touted, he made just 13 first-team appearances during an eight-year spell at Fulham encompassing a number of loan moves. He eventually left for good to join Millwall in 2014, before moving to League One side Colchester in a two-year deal last June.

h/t Sky Sports

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