There will be plenty of young footballers waking up this New Year's morning desperate to make 2016 their own.

Each year, a new crop of rising stars make a name for themselves by bursting into the first team at their club and making a positive impression.

Here, Sportsmail's Adam Shergold takes a look at 10 who could do just that in 2016.

TIMOTHY FOSU-MENSAH

Club: Manchester United

Age: 17

Position: Central defence

With Louis van Gaal never afraid to throw young players into his teams and the Manchester United back-line especially prone to injury, it is surely a matter of time before Timothy Fosu-Mensah is handed a senior debut.

The Amsterdam-born centre half joined the Old Trafford academy from Ajax in the summer of 2014 and has impressed in the club's youth teams with his reactions, athleticism and versatility.

Fosu-Mensah has also shown his leadership qualities as captain for the Holland Under 17 team and is earmarked as one of his country's stars to watch in the future.

Timothy Fosu-Mensah has been tipped to make the breakthrough at Manchester United in the future

LEE SEUNG-WOO

Club: Barcelona

Age: 17

Position: Striker/Attacking midfielder

Although still only 17, Lee Seung-woo has already been labelled as the 'Korean Messi'. No pressure, then.

At least the teenager is following in Messi's footsteps by progressing through Barcelona's famous La Masia academy and is expected to start playing for their B team when he turns 18 later this month.

Lee has been at Barca since 2011 but shot to more international prominence with some impressive performances for South Korea at the Under 17 World Cup in 2015, where they caused an upset by beating Brazil.

Lee-Seung woo (centre) is earning plaudits for South Korea and will play for Barcelona's B team next season

ANGEL CORREA

Club: Atletico Madrid

Age: 20

Position: Forward

A player in the mould of Sergio Aguero and Carlos Tevez, Correa is the latest Argentine dangerman trying to make the grade in La Liga.

His development has not always been easy - his first season at Atletico saw him sidelined for six months with a heart tumour - but the 20-year-old has shown promising glimpses of talent in the Atletico first team.

Possessing a fine first touch, low centre of gravity, bags of skills and an accurate finish, he has also played three times for his country already.

Angel Correa (right) has began to make a real impact at Atletico Madrid despite his previous medical issues

DONYELL MALEN

Club: Arsenal

Age: 16

Position: Centre forward

Arsenal saw off competition from a host of other leading European clubs to sign Malen from the prestigious academy at Ajax last summer.

The 16-year-old hasn't yet decided on his best position - he's equally adept at leading the line or utilising his pace in a wide position.

Malen has already played for Arsenal's Under 19 team in the UEFA Youth League and the club's Under 21 side - both ahead of schedule.

Donyell Malen is seen as one of Arsenal's most exciting prospects after they signed him from Ajax

IANIS HAGI

Club: Viitorul Constanta (on loan from Fiorentina)

Age: 17

Position: Attacking midfielder/winger

You didn't have to be Romanian to appreciate the wonderful talents of Gheorghe Hagi during his Nineties pomp and now his son is hoping to match some of that success.

After graduating from his father's academy, Hagi played - and even captained - Romanian title contenders Viitorul before sealing a 1million euro switch to Fiorentina.

He continues to play for Viitorul on loan and there are definite echoes of his father when he operates in the No 10 role.

Ianis Hagi, who is the son of Romanian legend Gheorghe, is impressing in the No 10 role on loan at Viitorul

JULIAN BRANDT

Club: Bayer Leverkusen

Age: 19

Position: Winger

The teenage winger has made such an impression for Leverkusen and Germany's youth sides that some want him to be part of the squad for Euro 2016.

That may be a long shot but his talent is evidenced by almost 50 Bundesliga appearances for Leverkusen since making his debut aged 17.

A Germany Under 21 international already, Brandt has inevitably found himself linked with a move to all-conquering Bayern Munich.

Bayer Leverkusen star Julian Brandt is impressing so much he could make Germany's Euro 2016 squad

GIANLUIGI DONNARUMMA

Club: Milan

Age: 16

Position: Goalkeeper

The 16-year-old already has the distinction of being Serie A's youngest-ever debutant and subsequently became the youngest to keep a clean sheet too.

He has also kept Diego Lopez out of the Milan team with a succession of outstanding performances, drawing widespread praise.

Widely compared to his idol growing up, Gianluigi Buffon, Donnarumma has been lauded by Christian Abbiati, who said: 'The Lord looked down on him and said 'you need to be a goalkeeper.'

Gianluigi Donnarumma has already broken into the first team and been sensational for AC Milan

JOSHUA KIMMICH

Club: Bayern Munich

Age: 20

Position: Midfielder

Bayern pride themselves on identifying and buying up the best young talent and their capture of Kimmich from Leipzig last January was viewed as a very good one.

Though the Germany Under 21 international has drawn comparisons with Bastian Schweinsteiger for his composed performances at the base of midfield, he is equally adept at playing further forward.

It will be difficult to break through at a club like Bayern, but Kimmich certainly isn't short of talent.

Joshua Kimmich moved to Bayern Munich last January and is expected to make a real impact

ABDELHAK NOURI

Club: Ajax

Age: 18

Position: Midfielder

Arsenal and Manchester United are among the clubs keeping close tabs on Nouri, one of the brightest talents currently making his way through the Jong Ajax set-up.

The midfielder, whose trickery has already become a YouTube hit, plays for Ajax's second team in the second division and it's surely a matter of time before Frank de Boer promotes him to the first team.

Abdelhak Nouri is being tracked by a number of clubs but is close to breaking into the first team

MARCO ASENSIO

Club: Espanyol (on loan from Real Madrid)

Age: 19

Position: Winger

Bolstered his profile by being part of Spain's victorious team in last year's Under 19 European Championships, scoring twice in the semi-final win over France.

The 19-year-old is owned by Real Madrid but has been loaned to Real Majorca and is currently at Espanyol, where he has featured regularly in La Liga.