European ambitions his priority

Despite featuring on this list, it is clear Irfan Fandi has grander dreams.

So ambitious is the 1.89m centre-back that he stalled over signing a contract with reputable Thai club Bangkok Glass, because he wanted to ply his trade in Europe.

The 20-year-old decided to join his father Fandi at Young Lions this term, as it would allow him the flexibility to attend trials overseas when necessary.

Irfan is coming off an impressive season with Home United and was key in helping them reach the Asean zone final of the AFC Cup. He also cemented his position as a regular starter with the Lions last year and skippered the Singapore team at the SEA Games.

Home coach Aidil Sharin highlighted Irfan's "fighting spirit" but also sounded a word of caution.

He noted Irfan's involvement with various national teams last year which saw him travel to Qatar, Bahrain, Turkmenistan, Dubai and Myanmar, and warned of burnout.

"You could see that his performance at the SEA Games dropped a bit, and then he got injured with the national team (in November)," noted Aidil. "We must remember he is still just a young player, not a robot."

Can deliver on promise

Over the last few years, a perception has hung over Adam Swandi - that he was given too much to handle, too soon.

Earmarked as Singapore football's "next big thing" - he made his debut for the Lions as a 17-year-old - he joined the academy of French club Metz in 2013, only to return two years later after struggling for playing time.

On the international front, he still has four caps; all earned in 2013.

By the time he enlisted for National Service in 2015, the naysayers had dismissed him a wasted talent. But Adam was not done yet.

Last year, he signed for Home United and enjoyed a breakthrough season, scoring seven goals and adding six assists as he helped his club to finish third and qualify for the second-tier AFC Cup.

Those performances earned him a move to S-League champions Albirex Niigata, where he is set to become the first Singaporean to play for the Japanese side.

Former national coach Bernd Stange, who gave Adam his Lions debut, believes the 22-year-old can still fulfil his promise.

"Albirex have made a good decision," he said. "They play a special style of attacking, combination football. Adam fits this style perfectly.

"They signed a player who can pick a pass, and who can change the tempo of a game. He isn't the fastest player, so he is not suited for a team that wants to defend and hit on the counter. He is a creator.

"Now he will train with very good coaches in a good environment at Albirex... and a lot of what happens next will depend on him."

Hoping for a healthy year

What Joshua Pereira would give for an injury-free season.

The midfielder first caught the eye in 2015, starring for the national U-18 team in matches against Thailand and South Korea.

He was also awarded the TNP-Dollah Kassim Award that year, which earned him a training stint at French club St Etienne.

But 2017, a year which promised so much, turned out to be a complete nightmare for Pereira.

In the Young Lions' first pre-season friendly match in January, he fractured a rib, puncturing a lung in the process. That sidelined him for almost six months.

Then, shortly after returning to training in June, he suffered a hairline fracture in his right foot, sidelining him for another four weeks.

This meant he was nowhere near peak condition for the SEA Games last August, and he ended up making just four S-League appearances for the Young Lions.

"Last year was a total mess for me," said Pereira. "I could not even train for more than half the season, and I hardly played any games. But I feel like 2018 is the year I get to kick-start my career."

Football Association of Singapore technical director Michel Sablon was impressed by the 20-year-old's perseverance.

He said: "Joshua has had two very bad injuries, but we will support him at the Young Lions and help him realise his ambitions to be a top player.

"He still has the potential, with good abilities when the ball is at his feet, but it is up to him to prove himself this season."

Goals the main target

At the end of last year, Hami Syahin was a wanted man.

Despite being a part of the Young Lions team that finished bottom of the S-League in back-to-back seasons, the diminutive 1.66m midfielder's profile grew.

His sound technique and ability to pass and shoot with either foot, mixed with his combative nature, caught the eye of bigger clubs like Albirex and Home.

But the 19-year-old opted to remain at the Young Lions, where he has established himself as a regular, and said he was excited at the prospect of being mentored by new Young Lions head coach Fandi Ahmad.

"One of the things that I did not manage to do last season was score," said Hami.

"Coach Fandi has told me he wants me to get into scoring positions more and contribute more goals. So I hope I can do that this season under his guidance."

Former national skipper Nazri Nasir, who coached Hami in the national U-15 and U-16 teams, is Fandi's assistant this season, and noted Hami's potential.

"He has progressed very well, and him being called up to the national team shows how far he has come," said Nazri. "But I believe there is still more he can offer. I think he knows that, overall, he could have done better last year.

"We aim to play him to his strengths, and we can see from training and friendly games that he enjoys his game more already."

JC star at the crossroads

There are many tales of star school players who never manage to hit the same heights in professional football. Hougang United's Justin Hui is determined not to become one of them.

The midfielder was a talisman for Meridian Junior College. In his A Division swansong last May, he scored a hat-trick in the final to deliver a fourth straight championship title for Meridian.

He made an equally big impact in the S-League five months later by scoring the winning goal against the Young Lions. It was Hui's first start in the league and also came while he was busy preparing for his A-level examinations.

"Honestly, it was not easy juggling studies with being in an S-League team," the 19-year-old recalled. "But I know breakthroughs in football don't come very often. So I knew I had to take it when it came."

Hui will receive his A-level results later this month, but he has not decided if he will pursue further studies or enlist for National Service.

Whatever his decision, Hougang coach Philippe Aw said Hui's passion is clear.

"One thing that's very evident in Justin is that he has the desire to make it in football," said Aw.

"That's the biggest difference-maker. Some youngsters nowadays say they want it but they may not have that desire in them."