Two England starlets tipped to claim Premier League prize as individual awards predicted for 2026/27 season
Roll up, roll up! It’s time for the talkSPORT 2026/27 Premier League Awards… well, predictions.
Jeff Stelling and Ally McCoist have selected who they believe are set to stand out as the best of the best in the new season, which begins live on talkSPORT on Friday when Arsenal host Coventry City.
Some of the best players in world football are ready and raring to go after a busy summer of World Cup action.
Erling Haaland will be eyeing his fourth Golden Boot in five seasons at Manchester City, while Declan Rice hopes to be the midfield marshal in another title-winning side with Arsenal.
There have also been nine new managerial appointments across the 20 clubs, all of whom will be desperate for strong debut campaigns.
Andoni Iraola has swapped Bournemouth for Liverpool, Enzo Maresca is now at City and former Premier League star Xabi Alonso has taken charge at Chelsea.
On Breakfast, Stelling and McCoist went through five categories and predicted some big names to claim individual accolades this season, including two England starlets for Young Player of the Year.
Player of the Season
McCoist – “It’s tough, isn’t it? Tough. I tried to predict… you look at the teams that will do well, it doesn’t necessarily mean the Player of the Season is going to come from there but I think there’s a higher chance that they will come from there.
“I think Arsenal will have another great season, not just for the fact of the way they played at the weekend but adding to that, the players that they have brought into the squad have indeed strengthened them.
“I think Declan Rice will have another fantastic season. I think (Martin) Odegaard coming off a great World Cup…
“There will be slight question marks against those two, and probably (Bukayo) Saka as well, how they handle the season after the World Cup, and whether any fatigue sets in… I’m going Saka. I think Saka will have a magnificent season on the right-hand side for Arsenal.”
Stelling – “You look at strikers, you’ve got to. I think (Alexander) Isak has got to have a better season than Haaland again.
“But, I’m going Martin Odegaard, because I thought he had a great World Cup and he’s started this season in the Community Shield brilliantly.
“If he’s back to the player he was a couple of seasons ago… oh my goodness, love him.”
Manager of the Season
McCoist – “I’m taking Arsenal to win it, so the obvious answer would be (Mikel) Arteta, but I must mention one or two others. Do you know who I’m expecting big things from? (Nottingham) Forest, Oliver Glasner.
“I think he’ll do well… I think they’ve got a lot of things going for them, I think he did an unbelievable job at (Crystal) Palace and I think Palace will clearly miss him, although the new fella’s got to be given a chance.
“I think Forest will do okay this year, I think Glasner will get a mention. The rest of them will be interesting to see. I think any of the promoted clubs, if they keep them in the division (deserve a shout)…
“I think out of the teams, I think Coventry (have the best chance)… I think it was maybe said in the betting, Ipswich are the biggest favourites to stay up. I think Coventry might have the best chance. If they stay up, Frank (Lampard) will come into the running.”
Stelling – “I agree… I think that (Roberto) De Zerbi could have a fantastic season (at Tottenham Hotspur). I think Daniel Farke could have a great season at Leeds as well.
“But, I’m going to go with Xabi Alonso (at Chelsea). If he needs to prove himself again, then I think he will at Stamford Bridge.”
Young Player of the Season
McCoist – “Interesting. I think Nico O’Reilly has been fantastic (at City), he’ll come into the equation. I’m expecting massive improvement and more consistency from Florian Wirtz (at Liverpool).
“Adam Wharton is a player I really enjoy watching (at Palace), I think he’s a terrific passer of the ball. You watch him, ball comes to him, first thing he does is look forward. If you’re a forward playing with Adam Wharton, you’re in heaven because he’ll find you, fire it into your feet or fire it in behind.
“But, Rio Ngumoha at Liverpool, I am really looking forward to seeing him… I’m not going to say for a minute he was kind of held back by (Mohamed) Salah, because Salah is one of the best players the league has ever seen.
“But he was a player I wanted to see more of and I think we’ll see more of him next season, and he’ll light the place up again.”
Stelling – “For me… look, there hasn’t been much to shout about for Newcastle in pre-season. But, I think this could be a big season for Lewis Miley.
“I really, really like him… he was forced to play full-back at times last season. But he’s a midfield player, and I love him.”
Top Scorer of the Season
Stelling – “Well, this should be pretty straightforward, shouldn’t it?”
McCoist – “You’re expecting improvement, massive things from Isak. (Igor) Thiago had a brilliant season last season (at Brentford)…
Stelling – “There’s only one name, though… has to be Erling Haaland. Even if they finish seventh, as Pearcey (Stuart Pearce) thinks they will, it’s still going to be Erling Haaland.”
Signing of the Season
McCoist – “Do you know who I think will do well? He didn’t play particularly well at the weekend… I’m still expecting big things from Elliot Anderson.
“He kind of played in the right-hand side position at the weekend. I wouldn’t say he looked lost, there was nothing going for Manchester City at the weekend at all. I still think he will have a fantastic season.”
Stelling – “For me, it’s another big money signing. I think Chelsea are going to have a good season so, for me, Morgan Rogers. We didn’t see the best of him at the World Cup because he wasn’t playing…
“I mean, look, it could easily be Danny Welbeck as well, by the way, that could be a brilliant signing. But Morgan Rogers, for me. I think he’s just a fantastic footballer.”
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