DOAN VAN HAU (DF/Vietnam)

In a nation that’s made a habit of producing technically outstanding footballers right across the pitch, Hanoi FC product Doan Van Hau is quickly garnering a reputation as one of Southeast Asia’s finest young defenders.

The left-sided fullback was a star for the U20 side that qualified for last year’s FIFA World Cup and is now a fully-fledged regular for his club and also an increasingly influential figure for the senior national team.

Dynamic in pushing forward to create extra numbers in midfield and with a consistently accurate delivery on crosses from deep he’s a frequent source of assists at whatever level he’s played at.

The 19-year-old’s defensive work too is outstanding with the ability to make some fine sliding tackles to win possession or thwart dangerous attacking moments whilst also possessing a reading of the play that belies his years and which allows him to make tackles and interceptions with regularity and accuracy.

RUSYAIDI SALIME (DF/MF/Singapore)

With Singaporean football in a state of real flux at the moment and uncertainty around just who may be charged with leading the future direction of the team whatever that approach will be it seems sensible to base it around youth and build for the future.

If that is the case then it appears Rusyaidi Salime could very well be a key part of those plans with the 19-year-old having starred domestically and performed solidly in his time with the Singaporean youth teams.

A right-sided fullback by trade, a position in which he’s long been regarded as one of the brightest talents coming through the ranks of Singaporean youth football, under the tutelage of Fandi Ahmad at SPL side Young Lions this year he’s been converted into a central midfielder where he’s continued to shine.

Confident on the ball, with a strong passing range and ability from dead-ball situations as well, Rusyaidi’s new found versatility could well propel him into key consideration for whoever leads the national team at Southeast Asia’s showpiece tournament later in the year.

LWIN MOE AUNG (MF/Myanmar)

In 2016 co-hosts Myanmar named one of the youngest squads seen in many years at the Suzuki Cup and with those players now having graduated to being more established members of the squad there’s another wave of young talent ready to be handed a chance later this year.

Listen to football insiders in the country and the one name they keep referring to is Lwin Moe Aung.

Still only 18, the product of the National Sports Institute was a member of the U17 squad that reached the semifinals of the AFF Youth Championships last year where he grabbed a dramatic late goal in the nation’s final group stage match to eliminate favourites Vietnam.

His name was then thrust firmly in the spotlight when former senior coach Gerd Zeise named him as one of four debutants for the nation’s crucial final Asian Cup qualifiers last month and he’s right in the mix to emerge as a key part of the Suzuki Cup squad in November/December.

A central midfielder who is capable of operating either as a number six or perhaps even better as a number eight where he can use his box-to-box capabilities, Lwin Moe Aung is an industrious deeper lying playmaker with a strong motor and passing range and could emerge as a real breakthrough talent later this year.

AKHYAR RASHID (MF/Malaysia)

Along with his namesake Safawi, Rashid could well be the nucleus around which Malaysia’s attack is built for the next decade and beyond.

Built low to the ground but with excellent close control, the 18-year-old is equally capable of operating as a winger on the left or right and loves nothing more than taking on defenders and dribbling around or through them.

Hailing from a sporting family where both his brother (football) and sister (Sepak takraw) have also played at a high level, the Kedah man has a soft first touch and accurate passing range.

A solid finisher to boot and very capable from set piece situations, he looms as a real wild card who is capable of winning matches on his own for Malaysia later in the year.

SUPACHOK SARACHAT (MF/Thailand)

The latest in what’s fast becoming a fine production line from Thai giants Buriram, the 19-year-old is a multi-faceted attacking threat who already has a taste of senior international football after starring at various youth levels.

As with all the best midfield talents you can tell straight away by the manner in which they move and constantly scan for space that they have a fine understanding of positioning – both their own, their teammates and the opposition – and that’s immediately clear when watching Supachok.

His head darting this way and that and waiting for the time and space to make his runs, when he’s then on the ball he is blessed with a delightfully soft first touch and the ability to play out of tight spaces.

Able to be deployed on either wing he’s at his best when operating as a classic number ten – a position from which he’s scored some absolute stunning close and long range goals for Buriram - and he’s another game changer who could have a real impact on the AFF Suzuki Cup later in the year.

FAIQ BOLKIAH (FWD/MF/Brunei)

One of the few Southeast Asian players to have been on the books of an English Premier League club, Leicester City youth product Faiq Bolkiah is one of the more dynamic young forwards in the region.

Having the rare distinction of both being named captain on his senior international debut as well as being the tender age of just 18 at the time, the forward is a powerful, explosive, talent who loves both running at defenders and also working his way into scoring positions where he can unleash a powerful shot that consistently causes plenty of trouble for opposing keepers.

Technically superb for one at such a young age and able to play either as a classic number nine or ten as well as out wide, in the national setup the plan is simply to get him on the ball as often as possible and he will be a key part of Brunei’s push to find a way past Timor-Leste in the playoff later this year as they search for a first finals appearance since way back in the very first edition of the AFF Suzuki Cup in 1996.

EGY MAULANA (AM/FWD/Indonesia)

Not only did he win the Golden Boot but also the Most Valuable Player award at last year’s AFF U18 Championships and now many good judges have tipped teenager Egy Maulana to be a crucial part of Indonesia’s senior squad going forward.

With coach Luis Milla placing a large degree of faith in a supremely talented young generation, Indonesia could have a real youthful edge in the Suzuki Cup later this year and one player that has fans in the passionate nation buzzing with excitement is the 17-year-old forward.

Having caught the eye with those breakthrough performances at youth level, Egy was reportedly offered trials with a number of clubs in both Asia and beyond before eventually signing with Polish outfit Lechia Gdansk, making him part of a select group of Southeast Asian players to be on the books of a European club. 

It’s easy to see why he garnered so much attention given his wizardry on the ball where he’s at his best operating as an attacking midfielder in the traditional number ten role where he can create moments of magic seemingly out of nothing.

Diminutive yet very strong on the ball, the left footed playmaker already has refined dribbling skills and outstanding movement that allows him to escape from tight spaces and with a delightful passing range, both short and long.

With those key attributes already on display it appears that the sky could be the limit for the Medan born wonder.