VIDEO: The Top 10 Emerging Talents of 2010-11 So Far

With the international break upon us this seems like a pertinent time to look back on the opening weeks of the 2010-11 season and pinpoint the players who have emerged and could well star in the months to come.

All the players below have impressed at the start of 2010-11 and if they are not household names already they surely will be by the turn of the year. Video evidence of each player is included, if you have any other suggestions or think we missed someone out, let us know in the comments.

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Jack Wilshere (Arsenal)

There is only one danger with Jack Wilshere and that's managing expectations. The newest future-star-of-tomorrow to come off the Arsenal conveyor belt is not only being talked up as the heir to the Gunners midfield, but the 18-year-old pup is also dubbed the English saviour following the 2010 World Cup debacle. And the reason? Well, Wilshere is just that good. Gaining his education under Wenger's tutelage and alongside the likes of Cesc Fabregas, the left-pegged Wilshere has already established himself as a creative midfielder able to cope at the highest level. Right now, everything Wilshere does is very very exciting. Long may it last.

Video Evidence: Jack Wilshere highlights vs Tottenham.

Lewis Holtby (Mainz)

You know your doing something right when both Germany and England are courting your international allegiance. Almost from nowhere this season Lewis Holtby has become a one-to-watch as the 20-year-old midfielder excels with Mainz (on loan from Schalke) as his club side rip the rule-book up in the Bundesliga. Already captain of the German U-21s, Holtby, a crafty goalscoring midielder with a sweet left-foot, is now courting attention from the biggest and best. With three goals and six assists in just seven Bundesliga matches this season is obvious to understand why he is in such demand. Provided he becomes a bit more physical as he develops, Holtby is poised to be one of the stars of his generation.

Video Evidence: A collection of Holtby highlights from this season as well as some older footage:

Dimitri Payet (St Etienne)

Sometimes, out of nowhere, things magically begin to fall in place. Such has been Dimitri Payet's season with St Etienne. At the outset of the Ligue 1 season no-one was mentioning Les Verts as being able of mix it with the big boys, but with Payet scoring goals like they're going out of fashion the Greens are riding high in second place. Seven goals in seven games are statistics which cannot be argued with (before this season Payet had 14 career goals in 139 matches), and the 23-year-old midfielder has been rewarded by receiving his first international call-up by Laurent Blanc. Payet is best known as a dead-ball specialist, but with his confidence at an all-time high the number seven in now a free-scoring, attacking midfielder at the top of his game.

Video Evidence: Dimitri Payet performance vs Lyon, his finest moment was this free-kick to beat Lyon.

Javier Pastore (Palermo)

A soundbite to qualify how good Javier Pastore is was said just this week from his Sicilian president Maurizio Zamparini. "[I wouldn't sell him] even for €60m... I don’t want to make money through football. It doesn’t interest me, so if I can I’ll keep him." So the price for Argentina's next number 10 has been set high, and rightly so after Pastore has been one of Serie A's stars this season with four goals in nine matches in Italy. Already being called the best player Palermo have ever had, Pastore is a Kaka-esque type footballer who could well eclipse the comparisons with the Brazilian playmaker. Blessed with incredible balance, two wondrous feet, vision and a keen eye for goal, Pastore is simply the complete attacking midfielder on paper. Find consistency over the course of the whole season and Pastore will be one of the most sought after talents next summer.

Video Evidence: Javier Pastore performance vs Juventus:

Hernanes (Lazio)

For many years the Brazilian midfielder was tipped to be a major player following sustained success with Sao Paolo. Many of the big European clubs sniffed around (reportedly Barcelona, Inter Milan and Roma were all linked) but it was Lazio that took the plunge securing Hernanes for what now looks to be a scandalously low fee of 13 million euros. The 25-year-old has excellent passing, movement and creativity in midfield, he may lack pace but is the closest thing to a playmaker at Lazio since Juan Veron. Hernanes has been in excellent touch and is one of the key reasons why Lazio are two points clear at the top of Serie A.

Video Evidence: Hernanes individual highlights v Milan, probably his best moment was this assist v Brescia.

Shinji Kagawa (Borussia Dortmund)

Keisuke Honda may have wowed the watching world during the World Cup but Kagawa is swiftly turning into Japan’s main man in Europe. Signed from Cerezo Osaka for a ludicrous €350,000, Kagawa has been sensational for Borussia Dortmund since making his debut in August. The 21-year-old has made a habit of scoring goals by running in from deep positions and could turn out to be one of the finds of the campaign. His current tally stands at four goals in seven appearances for Dortmund and by notching one against Wolfsburg and a brace versus Schalke he proved that he can score against the very best.

Video Evidence: A selection of Shinji Kagawa goals for Borussia Dortmund:

Philippe Coutinho (Inter)

Having signed the young Brazilian starlet in 2008, the hype surrounding the former Vasco da Gama youth product has been on overdrive for some time. After finally arriving at the San Siro in the summer Philippe Coutinho has impressed new coach Rafa Benitez and has looked quality when given the opportunity this season. The 18-year-old has been heavily used a substitute but his standing at Inter was shown when he started the Derby d’Italia against Juventus on Sunday. With typical Samba style, he seems to have the right work rate and phenomenal technical ability to be a huge success in Europe. His performances have also encouraged new Brazil coach Mano Menezes who has called Coutinho up for the friendly matches against Iran and Ukraine in the next week.

Video Evidence: Philippe Coutinho’s individual performance v Werder Bremen.

Cleo (Partizan Belgrade)

Brazil may well regret losing Cleo who has now gained Serbian citizenship which is high praise for the 25-year-old striker. 19 goals in 34 appearances last season hinted that he was a special talent but that has been confirmed in the early weeks of 2010-11 with 11 in 13 matches. Crucially, he has saved his best performances for the Champions League where he scored eight goals in six qualifiers and was also hugely impressive in last week’s defeat to Arsenal. The standout moment of Cleo’s season so far came with a cracking bicycle kick against Hajduk Kula in September and with the technique and physical qualities he possesses, he should only improve with more experience in Europe and perhaps soon at international level.

Video Evidence: A selection of Cleo goals for Partizan in the Champions League and that overhead kick:

Douglas Costa (Shakhtar Donetsk)

Coming through the ranks at Gremio meant Douglas Costa was labelled as the “new Ronaldinho” from a young age. Tipped to join the very biggest clubs in Europe, the 20-year-old attacking midfielder has adapted to life in the Ukraine alongside a host of Brazilians at Shakhtar and has been a key reason behind their terrific start to the new season. After beating Dynamo Kiev on the weekend, Shakhtar are five points clear domestically and have also won both their Champions League group games. Their standout result this season came at Braga where they won 3-0 and Douglas Costa was electric, providing two assists and crashing home a late penalty.

Video Evidence: Douglas Costa in action for Shakhtar Donetsk.

Josh McEachran (Chelsea)

At 17 years old, McEachran is already a record holder. Last month, in the Champions league match in Zilina, the fresh-faced Blues midfielder became the first player to feature in the competition who was born after the tournament's inception back in 1992. More important than the dry facts though, McEachran looks like the real deal. Primarily an attacking midfielder, McEachran is recognised for being comfortable in possession and able to side-step opponents while dribbling. He favours his left-foot and has a clever and inventive range of passing. He has proven himself to be an effective dead-ball specialist throughout his short career so far and is beginning to earn slots on the Chelsea bench for key matches.

Video Evidence: Josh McEachran highlights v Newcastle: