Alex Iwobi shows off his commemorative picture from Premier League
The Premier League have marked a record-breaking season for homegrown debuts in the top flight with a commemorative picture awarded to the 'Class of 2015-16'.
Sixty-seven homegrown graduates made their Premier League bows last season, a new high since the launch of their Elite Player Performance Plan in 2012.
Arsenal's Alex Iwobi, one of the 67, posed with a framed version of the composite image, awarded to him to mark his first appearance in Arsenal's 3-0 win at Swansea City in October of last year.
The homegrown players also received a personalised, engraved case containing a Premier League match ball from last season, detailing their debut day.
Last season's figures marked a 24 per cent increase on the 2014-15 campaign, significantly helped by Bournemouth's list of 15 debutants.
Manchester United’s Marcus Rashford, Tottenham midfielder Dele Alli and Demarai Gray of Leicester City all feature on the list.
The Premier League hopes to build last season’s total in the next stage of the EPPP with the launch of Premier League 2, a revamped version of the Under 21 division.
Premier League 2 will act as its own standalone league; the age boundary has been raised to 23 - with three overaged players and a goalkeeper allowed - and matches are set to be played at clubs’ first-team home grounds more regularly.
Credit:dailymail.co.uk
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