THE Premiership may be home to the biggest of stars playing in England but the Nationwide League has its fair share of young and established talents. ANDY RAMSBOTTOM looks at 10 who are likely to catch the eye this season.

JERMAINE DEFOE

West Ham Utd

West Ham starlet who will be back in the Premiership next season, one way or another.

Quick and skilful, Defoe’s performances provided one of the few rays of light for West Ham fans last year.

The England under-21 international should find the net more frequently against Nationwide defences who will struggle to deal with his pace, movement and finishing.

MARCUS STEWART

Sunderland

Being given Kevin Phillips’ No 10 shirt is a clear indication that Stewart will be first choice striker as the Wearsiders attempt to bounce back to the Premiership.

Stewart may have been out-of-sorts last season but he has a proven record of scoring in Division 1 with Bristol Rovers and Ipswich and it wasn’t too long ago he was being talked about as a possible England player.

With Phillips poised to join Southampton, expect Stewart to take up the mantle of Black Cats’ goal king.

SHAUN GOATER

Reading

A £500,000 signing, Goater knows all about scoring goals in the Nationwide League from his spells with Man City, Rotherham and Bristol City.

Raised in Bermuda, Goater has proved a real success in England and should provide Reading with the cutting edge they lacked at times last season.

At 33, he is no spring chicken but he should have the experience and strength to cause real problems to defences in the division.

MICHAEL BROWN

Sheffield United

Brown’s midfield partnership with Michael Tonge was the driving force behind the Blades reaching two cup semi-finals and the play-off final last season.

The former Manchester City trainee has developed into an excellent ball-playing midfielder with a keen eye for goal. He finished as the club’s top scorer with 20 goals - an impressive total for a midfielder - with many coming from free-kicks.

ROBERT EARNSHAW

Cardiff

The fleet-footed striker will be eager to test out his skills, having wreaked havoc on back fours from Division 3 upwards.

The 22-year-old notched 36 goals last year as Cardiff gained promotion from Division 2 and his exploits won him a place in Mark Hughes’ fast-improving Wales squad.

Next season should see further success with his club and a possible spot at Euro 2004 in Portugal.

LUKE CHADWICK

Burnley

Playing in the shadow of David Beckham was never going to be easy for Chadwick but a loan spell at Reading last season showed he was a quality player in his own right.

After helping Reading to the play-offs, he has now gone to Burnley for a season-long loan spell. A good season in the Division 1 could convince Alex Ferguson that the pacey winger still has a future with United.

ATRIM SAKIRI

West Brom

England fans - and David Seaman - may remember Sakiri for his goal direct from a corner for Macedonia at St Mary’s stadium last October.

England were lucky to escape with a 2-2 draw that day and Macedonian captain Sakiri did enough to convince West Brom to sign him.

The 29-year-old won a Bulgarian championship medal last season with CSKA Sofia and will be looking to prove his skilful midfield play against England was not a one-off.

PAUL MERSON

Walsall

Life seems like one crisis after another for Paul Merson (pictured left) but his football continues to delight the fans.

He may have been in emotional turmoil at Portsmouth but his ability to unlock defences still helped the south coast club win automatic promotion to the Premiership.

Saddlers fans, still in shock that Merson has signed for their club, will settle for a few thrills and a play-off place and the former Arsenal favourite may well have enough left in his locker to provide it.

DAVID JOHNSON

Notts Forest

The former Ipswich forward scored an impressive 29 goals last season, driving Forest towards the play-offs. Fans at the City Ground will be expecting more of the same this season from a player who has gone from strength to strength after dropping from the Premiership to the Nationwide League.

MICHAEL CARRICK

West Ham

With Joe Cole gone, it will be left to Carrick to lead West Ham back to the Premiership.

A combative midfielder who is confident on the ball, the Geordie has attracted the eye of several top clubs and has already represented England.

He was short-listed for the Young Player of the Year Award in 2002 and looks set to be one of the dominant midfielders in the division.