Middlesbrough Football Club’s illustrious Football Academy is situated 20 miles from the Riverside Stadium at Rockcliffe Park, in the village of Hurworth near Darlington.

The state of the art training complex was officially opened in 1998 and has been used by the England national team at all levels, and was used as the base for team GB in the 2012 Olympics.

Players to come through the now prestigious Boro academy in recent years include current first-teamers Stewart Downing, Ben Gibson and Adam Reach.

Australian internationals Luke Wilkshire, Brad Jones and Rhys Williams. Along with West Brom’s International pair James Morrison and Chris Brunt.

The long list also includes Joe Bennett, Andrew Taylor, Jason Steele, Ross Turnbull, David Wheater, and Richie Smallwood who are all currently plying their trade in the Football League.

Academy manager Dave Parnaby has overseen Boro’s 2004 Youth Cup win and saw the club winners of the Under-18s professional Development League 2014-15, where they qualified for the UEFA Youth League 2015-16.

This seasons under-19’s then reached the last-16, losing to eventual runners up Paris St-Germain, who were recently beaten by Chelsea in the final.

Here are FIVE Boro academy Stars to look for......

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PRESS THE IMAGE BELOW TO SEE THE FIVE PLAYERS!

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Dael Fry

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Dael Fry who has been at Boro since the age of nine represented England under-17's and was part of the European Championship winning squad in 2014.

The tall, talented Centre-half made his first team debut in a 0-0 draw away to Preston North End on the opening day of the 2015-16 Championship season.

He has since gone on to make a further 8 first team appearances and has looked more than comfortable in Boro’s rock solid defence this season.

Boro manager Aitor Karanka has praised the youngster saying...“He is a kid that I trust a lot. He looked like a 25-year-old against a really good team in Leeds, under a lot of pressure and in a difficult stadium. I’m really pleased for him.”

“We have to keep working with him because he has everything”

 

Bradley Fewster

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Speedy forward Bradley Fewster has played for England at Under-16,17,18 and 19 levels, scoring 13 goals in 18 games for his country.

He played for Boro twice in the Capital One Cup last season scoring on his second outing against Preston North End.

The talented striker is currently on a season long loan at York City where he has scored 8 goals in 21 appearances for the struggling side.

 

Harry Chapman

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The exciting The 18-year old winger made an eye catching start to his football career, starring in Boro’s 2015-16 UEFA Youth League run, appearing 6 times, scoring 3 goals and creating 8 assists.

As soon as Boro exited the tournament against Paris St-Germain in February, Barnsley boss Paul Heckingbottom beat 5 other clubs to Chapman’s signature, who signed on loan until the end of the season.

The impressive youngster has appeared 10 times so far for the Tykes scoring one goal. He also made an appearance at Wembley in front of 59,230 where Barnsley beat Oxford United 3-2 in the final of the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy in April.

Boro captain Grant Leadbitter said of the promising youngster... “One thing he does is scores goals. You can’t buy scoring goals. Every time I look at the scoresheets of the younger teams there’s always ‘H Chapman’”

 

Arnel Jakupovic

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Austrian born Arnel Jakupovic joined Boro in summer 2015 from AK Austria Wien, where in his last season for the club, he appeared 20 times in the Under-18 Youth League, scoring 21 goals.

The big no.9 who is an expert finisher and an excellent free kick specialist, has settled quickly with life in England.

This season the 17-year old has represented boro’s Under-18s and 21s scoring more than 20 goals in the League, Youth Cup and UEFA Youth League.

Jakupovic is definitely one to watch with a bright future and will be pushing for a Football League loan move in the summer.

Junior Mondal

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Local boy Junior Mondal is another exciting prospect from the Boro academy and was part of the club’s Under-18 Development League winning team 2014/15.

Mondal who can operate in Midfield or Forward was an integral part of the UEFA Youth League team, appearing 6 times scoring 3 goals.

Scouted by Boro age 11, Mondal is a pacey, attack minded forward player who loves to take people on.

A decent crosser and a cool finisher in front of goal, Mondal has been on standby for England Under-17s twice.

Boro Fans...Have you seen any of these players play? Who do you think will be the next youngster to break into Aitor Karanka’s first team? Who else should fans look out for?

Let us know your thoughts and opinions in the comments below!