from goal.com
Toni Kroos (Bayern Munich)
18 year old Kroos is now ready to make the step-up to the Bayern first team after an impressive debut season last year. He rose to prominence during the U-17 World Cup in 2007 and has long been touted as the future of Bayern Munich.
His debut last season saw him provide two assists for Miroslav Klose against Energie Cottbus in a 5-0 win. He was also invaluable in Bayern's Uefa Cup win over Red Star Belgrade coming on as a late substitute to set up Klose again, before grabbing the winner himself. He made a total of 12 appearances last season, but will be looking for more this time around.
Competition for places in the Bayern midfield is fierce but the quality of Kroos should shine through if given a chance by trainer Jürgen Klinsmann. Pundits have complained that Bayern didn't buy a top-name creative midfielder this summer, but Toni Kroos could well be the reason behind that.
Marko Marin (Borussia Mönchengladbach)
Such is the high-esteem in which 19 year old Marin is held, that German national team trainer Joachim Löw called him up into the preliminary squad for this summer's European Championships. He was unlucky to be cut from the final squad, but the winger surely has a bright international future ahead of him. He made his debut as a second half substitute against Belarus in one of the warm-up games for Euro 2008.
Last season during Mönchengladbach's promotion campaign from the second division, Marin was one of their star performers. He is an attacking midfielder with excellent technical skills and a high amount of creativity. He provided 13 assists last season to go with his four goals.
He already has four Bundesliga games under his belt from the 2006/07 season when Borussia were relegated. This time around expect to see a lot more of Marin as he terrorises defences and tries to help the newly promoted side stay up.
Renato Augusto (Bayer Leverkusen)
Bayer Leverkusen pulled off quite a coup in signing 20 year old Brazilian Renato Augusto this summer after a number of clubs were showing an interest in him. The likes of Chelsea and Liverpool were reported to be tracking the former Flamengo midfielder.
As is the way in Brazil, he has been dubbed the next big thing and former coach Nery Franco heaped more pressure on him by saying that he would become the “new Kakaâ€. Just like Kaka, Renato Augusto is superb on the ball, is very quick, and possesses a lot of skill.
He could be just what Leverkusen need to serve the talented forward line of Kiessling, Gekas, and Helmes. He looks set to follow in the footsteps of an illustrious line of Brazilians to star for Bayer including Zé Roberto, Lucio, Franca, Emerson and Jorginho.
Martin Fenin (Eintracht Frankfurt)
Czech striker Martin Fenin came to the public attention last year during the U-20 World Cup in Canada where he scored three goals. He almost joined Juventus but had a late change of heart believing that his chances would be limited at the Serie A club. Instead Frankfurt snapped him up for €3.5 million.
His debut for the ‘Adler' was spectacular as he hit a hat-trick against Hertha Berlin. He scored on his home debut too against Bielefeld, but then added just two more goals to give him six in 17 appearances. He has since been capped 5 times by the Czech Republic and was called up to the Euro 2008 squad, but didn't play.
This season, having settled into life in the Bundesliga, expect to see the young striker hitting the back of the net more regularly.
Jonathan Pitroipa (Hamburg)
22 year old Pitroipa, nicknamed “Pitâ€, hails from Ouagadougou in Burkina Faso and could be set to impress this season for HSV after signing from SC Freiburg. The loss of Rafael van der Vaart means the HSH Nordbank Arena crowd need a new hero, and Pitroipa could well be their man.
The diminutive forward (he is just 5ft 7†and weighs 9 stone 7) already has HSV trainer Martin Jol as a fan and could be set to see plenty of action this season. "There are not many players like him in the Bundesliga. He is incredibly fast, light-footed and strong in one-on-ones. He has really convinced me in pre-season, his opponents often need fouls to stop him. I'm confident that he will help us" Jol said.
Hamburg fans have already had a glimpse of what is to come during a pre-season friendly against Manchester City when Pitroipa starred and was given a standing ovation when substituted.
Marc André Kruska (Borussia Dortmund)
Kruska was considered a teenage prodigy back in 2004/05 when as a 17 year old he made his Bundesliga debut for Borussia Dortmund. Things haven't gone quite as many had hoped, but Kruska could be set for a big season under new BVB trainer Jürgen Klopp.
Kruska is a regular with the German U-21 side and has recetly been linked with a surprise move to Real Madrid, who want to put him in their B team for a season in order to groom him for the first team.
The defensive midfielder possesses a highly competitive spirit, is strong in the tackle, has good vision and has an impressive shot.
