The Guardian profiles nine young Premier League players who have been loaned out to English Football League clubs this season, highlighting their progress and potential.

– Stockport's 18-year-old goalkeeper Whatmuff, tipped for the top after earning promotion with Rochdale and touring with Manchester City's squad alongside Gianluigi Donnarumma.
– Winger Iling-Junior, 22, who has moved between England and Italy (Juventus, Middlesbrough, West Brom, Pisa) and needs a settled spell to fulfil his potential.
– A Manchester City academy midfielder, praised by Pep Guardiola as "clever and intelligent", who overcame a fractured spine and shins to make his first-team debut.
– Wigan's Gray, a holding midfielder now getting League One minutes after a slow start to the season.
– Tottenham's Irish forward Melia, a League of Ireland record signing from St Patrick's Athletic, now at Lincoln City.
– Striker Silleh, spotted playing in the Gambia and with spells at Olympiakos and Nottingham Forest, now adapting to League Two.
– A midfielder on his fifth loan spell, who found form at Crewe last season with seven goals and draws Phil Foden comparisons.
– Doncaster's O'Reilly, developing under Grant McCann's guidance.
– Keyrol Figueroa, son of former Wigan defender Maynor Figueroa, also loaned to Wigan.