Tahith Chong, Callum Hudson-Odoi, Phil Foden, Ademola Lookman and Joe Willock all feature
Monday 7 January 2019 07:32, UK
The Premier League clubs entered the FA Cup this weekend for the third round, and following a hectic festive schedule, managers had the opportunity to rest key players and blood one or two youngsters.
Cardiff, Huddersfield and Bournemouth were all knocked out on Saturday, while Fulham were eliminated on Sunday, but it was the re-emergence of the next generation (as well as VAR) which caught the eye.
Manchester City, Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester United were among the sides to turn to youth, but who impressed? We take a look...
Chong came off the bench to make his Manchester United debut in the 2-0 win over Reading, having been an unused substitute for the Champions League defeat by Juventus.
The Curacao-born winger was given a yellow card for a foul but it was a typically combative cameo from the frizzy-haired 18-year-old with the game already won.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer also named James Garner in his squad to underline his faith in youth, and Chong can expect more game time for the first team between now and the end of the season.
After all the speculation over his future and reports of a big-money move to Bayern Munich, Callum Hudson-Odoi was given a rare opportunity to show what all the fuss is about in Chelsea's win over Nottingham Forest - and he did not disappoint.
Given a start as part of Chelsea's front three, the 18-year-old winger provided the spark Maurizio Sarri's side needed to end Forest's stubborn resistance at Stamford Bridge as he skipped past Saidy Janko and crossed for Alvaro Morata to score the opener.
Soon after Luke Steele denied Hudson-Odoi a goal of his own, the teenager reverted to the role of provider, beating Janko again down the right and picking out Morata at the far post to make it 2-0.
Foden got a rare 90 minutes as Manchester City hit seven past Championship side Rotherham to book their place in the fourth round of the FA Cup.
The City academy graduate has struggled for first-team football this season, starting only six games, but the England U21 international, who has been described by Pep Guardiola as the "diamond of English football", impressed his manager once again with his performance against Rotherham.
"Believe me, if he plays, it's because we believe he can play," Guardiola said in his post-match press conference. "We are not here to be nice people to bring him on the pitch because he's a Manchester City fan or is a nice guy. It's because we believe he can do it."
Foden scored City's second goal - his second goal for the club - to become the youngest player (aged 18 years and 223 days) to score in the FA Cup for Man City since Rony Lopes did so aged 17 years and eight days against Watford in January 2013.
An impressive loan spell at RB Leipzig in the second half of last season gave Everton supporters hope that Lookman could shine under Marco Silva at Goodison Park this season.
The 21-year-old winger has shown his quality in flashes but has been unable to cement himself in the starting XI.
His cause has not been helped by an injury that has kept him out in recent weeks but he was back against Lincoln and there were further glimpses of what he is capable of.
Lookman is not renowned for his heading ability but he nodded Everton in front early on. He was lively throughout, showing positivity in possession and his direct running kept the home fans on the edge of their seats and hoping for more in the weeks and months to come.
Willock produced a man-of-the-match display for Arsenal and showed he was clinical in front of goal when the opportunities arrived.
The 19-year-old had a sound understanding with his attacking team-mates Aaron Ramsey, Ainsley Maitland-Niles and Eddie Nketiah and will surely get more first-team opportunities under Unai Emery off the back of his productive display.
Nketiah was heavily involved for Arsenal and got himself into goalscoring positions, but unfortunately his performance will be mostly remembered for squandering two glorious opportunities early in the game and his inability to convert a one on one shortly before half-time.
However, his movement off the ball helped create chances for his team-mates and his pace throughout proved problematic for Blackpool's backline.
It was a walk in Prenton Park for Tottenham on Friday night, but the manner in which Spurs swept aside League Two Tranmere 7-0 was still very impressive, with Skipp playing the full 90 minutes in Birkenhead.
The 18-year-old has been featuring recently off the substitutes' bench and made his first start in the 1-0 win over Burnley last month.
Tranmere afforded him far too much space in midfield, and Skipp showcased his passing ability with a fine ball fizzed into the path of Fernando Llorente to score the second of his three goals.
Diangana scored two goals against Macclesfield Town on his Carabao Cup bow earlier this season, and he was a live wire once more in West Ham's 2-0 win over Birmingham.
He spoke last week of his eagerness to feature in the world's most famous cup competition, and it looked like he relished the occasion.
Birmingham players appeared to target the youngster in the first half, but they couldn't handle his pace and trickery during a standout opening 45 minutes.
Diangana has a wand of a left foot, and will need to work on his right if he is to become a first-team regular. Though he tired towards the end, this was another very promising appearance.
Longstaff featured on the front of the matchday programme for Newcastle's home tie with Blackburn and it was perhaps a nod to the team Rafa Benitez would select.
As it turned out, Longstaff made his St. James' Park bow for the Magpies in the 1-1 draw, and while Benitez admitted another match did not suit his side, Longstaff will relish another first-team outing in the replay at Ewood Park.
The 21-year-old was joined by goalkeeper Freddie Woodman and defender Jamie Sterry in a youthful side and Longstaff overcame a shaky start to be the pick of the bunch, producing an accomplished display.
Newcastle are crying out for investment in their first-team squad, but the local lad never hid and always looked to play forward passes.
