Source: Daily_Mail
Ten hidden gems in the Football League
Jermaine Beckford sent Manchester United crashing out of the FA Cup, and he's not the only lower-league wonder.The Leeds striker's third-round winner at Old Trafford highlighted the quality of players outside the top flight, while no doubt alerting a host of Premier League managers seeking a bargain in the January transfer window. To help them out with their new year shopping, Sportsmail's Football League experts have taken a look at a few of the men eager for a shot at the big time. VICTOR MOSES Age: 19. Club: Crystal Palace.Position: Forward.Moses was an 11-year-old in Kaduna, Nigeria, when his parents were killed during religious riots. He sought asylum in the UK and stayed with a foster family in Croydon, who helped him win a place at the independent school Whitgift. There, former Palace manager Steve Kember worked on the youngster's prodigious skills, first learned playing in the street with a sticky tape ball.Neil Warnock has been careful not to over-play Moses since, using him sparingly despite clamour from Palace fans to play him every game. But in the past month, he seems to have added new maturity to his special gifts.A forward or winger who is not unusually quick, his greatest quality is his close control.Sportsmail valuation: £5m.Who's watching? Liverpool, Manchester City, Wigan. SCOTT LOACHAge: 21.Club: Watford.Position: Goalkeeper.The 6ft 2in goalkeeper was selected for Stuart Pearce's England squad for the Under 21 European Championship, playing in the 4-0 defeat by Germany in the final. His strength of character shone through and he is now England's No 1 at that level. He is a very good shot-stopper, particularly on one-on-ones, commands his area and kicks well. Loach is certainly not lacking in confidence, saying: 'I think my time to play in the Premier League will come eventually, I just have to keep playing.' His manager, Malky Mackay, rates him very highly, saying after a 1-0 win over Plymouth earlier in the season: 'He made two or three world-class saves and I don't say that lightly.'Sportsmail valuation: £2m.Who's watching? Arsenal, Tottenham. TAMAS KADARAge: 19. Club: Newcastle.Position: Defender.A decent Dennis Wise signing? Surely not. The teenage Hungary centre half, who is tall, rangy and fearless, was signed for his potential and has slowly worked his way into the first-team squad. He can play a bit too, although there is a reluctance to throw him into action too early, so he is behind Steven Taylor and Fabricio Coloccini in the pecking order. But one for the future, without doubt.Sportsmail valuation: £1.5million.Who's watching? Tottenham, Liverpool, Everton, Bolton, Blackburn.JONJO SHELVEYAge: 17. Club: Charlton.Position: Midfield.Romford-born Shelvey became Charlton's youngest player when he made his first-team debut against Barnsley at Oakwell at the age of 16 years and 59 days, breaking the previous record held by Paul Konchesky. Despite being just 17, the box-to-box midfielder has put in some impressive performances in his short career, showing an array of passing skills, and an eye for goal, scoring seven times in 41 appearances.Sportsmail valuation: £3.5m.Who's watching: Chelsea, West Ham. ADAM JOHNSONAge: 22. Club: Middlesbrough.Position: Winger.Johnson and his coaches have always believed in his ability and he has certainly been an able replacement for Stewart Downing. The flying winger will have plenty of options if he stays at the Riverside until the summer, when his contract expires. Nobody can read Gordon Strachan's mind, but he might be tempted to cash in given the right offer.Sportsmail valuation: £6m.Who's watching? Chelsea, Sunderland, Everton, Tottenham, Celtic.GRAHAM DORRANSAge: 22. Club: West Bromwich.Position: Midfielder.Dorrans, who recently broke into the Scotland team, is rapidly earning a reputation as one of the best bargains of recent seasons following his move from Livington for £100,000 in July 2008. As well as high levels of skill and an eager work-rate, the stocky Glaswegian is a feisty competitor. Enjoys getting forward to support the strikers, shoots fiercely and is adding greater consistency with growing experience.Sportsmail valuation: £4m.Who's watching: Aston Villa, Everton, Sunderland and Birmingham. JOSH WRIGHTAge: 19. Club: Scunthorpe.Position: Midfielder.Playing in the lower leagues with an unfashionable club like Scunthorpe United did not stop Kevin Keegan getting noticed, did it? Besides, Scunthorpe are much better these days, competing in the Championship thanks in no small measure to the little-known talent that is Wright. The deep-lying midfielder looks an accomplished linkman, always comfortable on the ball, rarely losing it and boasting a fine range of passing.Sportsmail valuation: £600,000.Who's watching? Burnley, Wigan, plus several leading Championship clubs.ANDY CARROLLAge: 21. Club: Newcastle.Position: Striker.Provided he can be persuaded to concentrate on his football rather than nights out, Carroll has all the makings of being a real handful for Premier League defenders. Already imposing and still growing and building up, he is as tough as they come in the air and has very good feet. Attracting top flight scouts but Newcastle hope they can hold on to him.Sportsmail valuation: £3m.Who's watching: Bolton, Stoke, Blackburn, Hull City. ALEX SMITHIESAge: 19. Club: Huddersfield.Position: Goalkeeper.A graduate from the club's Academy, the goalkeeper has appeared at youth level with England. Smithies has been ever present for League One Huddersfield as they chase promotion, earning rave reviews after some impressive displays, which has seen him linked with a move to the Premier League. Manager Lee Clark is desperate to keep the highly-rated goalkeeper at the club despite announcing a £4m annual loss.Sportsmail valuation: £2m.Who's watching: Stoke, Tottenham.ADAM MATTHEWSAge: 17. Club: Cardiff City.Position: Defender.Matthews possesses a staggering maturity. Young in years, but carries himself like a veteran. His control is instant, his crossing superb and his versatility astonishing for one so young. His natural position may beright back but he has also played left back and in central midfield. Manager Dave Jones has compared him to former Cardiff teenage star Aaron Ramsey, now at Arsenal.Sportsmail valuation: £5m.Who's watching: Manchester United. THE LIST: The top 50 footballers we'd like to see snapped up by Premier League clubs in the transfer window, Nos 30-21THE INSIDER: Liverpool unlikely for Marouane Chamakh, Rangers star Kris Boyd could be a Boro boy and Spurs set to miss out on Maxi RodriguezJANUARY TRANSFER WINDOW 2010: All moves at every Premier League club