Tammy Abraham, Amy Tinkler and Katarina Johnson-Thompson: The sports stars to watch in 2017

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Declan Warrington1 January 2017

The next 12 months could see the emergence of a number of up-and-coming British stars onto the global sporting scene.

Here, we select 10 to look out for in 2017.

Jack Clifford (rugby union)

It will take an exceptional player to have an impact at a time when England are in such fine form, but the 23-year-old Harlequin has significant potential. Crucially, the back-row forward plays in a position where England head coach Eddie Jones does not seem entirely satisfied with his options.

Kyle Edmund (tennis)

The British number two followed a promising 2015 with an even better 12 months in which he secured several breakthrough victories and reached the fourth round of the US Open, where he was eliminated by then-world number one Novak Djokovic. For a 21-year-old who before 2016 had won only one match at a grand slam, such progress and also winning Davis Cup matches bodes well.

Haseeb Hameed (cricket)

Hameed, 19, might just prove the most promising British cricketer of his generation. His technical ability - demonstrated in the two Tests he played on the tour of India - could even make him England captain Alastair Cook's best partner of the 11 openers to have featured since Andrew Strauss' retirement. Not just one for 2017; perhaps one for the next decade.

Amy Tinkler (gymnastics)

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The 17-year-old established her reputation at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, where she won a bronze medal on the women's floor. It is with that confidence and momentum that she is likely to impress again in front of a home crowd at April's World Cup of Gymnastics, at London's 02 Arena.

Charlie Maddock (taekwondo)

The fast and explosive Maddock, 21, may have missed out on qualification for Rio 2016, but she has emerged as a real prospect for Tokyo 2020. Victory at the recent Grand Prix final in Baku highlighted that once again.

Adam Yates (cycling)

The previously little-known Yates, 24, was named the best young rider of the 2016 Tour de France after finishing fourth overall. The Orica GreenEdge rider's twin brother Simon is also considered highly promising, but Adam's momentum suggests he remains the more mature of the two, and therefore capable of realising the potential he has shown for years.

Tammy Abraham (football)

Prolific in the Championship with Bristol City, and with the manager of his parent club, Antonio Conte, finally ready to embrace Chelsea's young players, the 19-year-old striker can be expected to continue excelling over the coming 12 months. Abraham is also likely to be the England Under-21s' leading striker at the summer's European Championships, giving him a higher-profile platform.

Liam Williams (boxing)

That Williams, 24, was named the Boxing Writers' Club's Young Boxer of 2016 was just the latest demonstration he is likely to prove Wales' best fighter since Joe Calzaghe. The light-middleweight's natural talent has never been in question, but he has progressed beyond being a prospect and is likely to be central to promoter Frank Warren's plans, particularly in one of the British fight scene's competitive weight divisions.

Matthew Fitzpatrick (golf)

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Fitzpatrick can truly justify so many considering him one of the world's finest young golfers if he can apply the experience he has gathered. The 22-year-old from Sheffield recently followed making his Ryder Cup debut by winning the Tour Championship, a grounding which can serve his ambitions of challenging the world's very best.

Katarina Johnson-Thompson (athletics)

Rio 2016 was not the personal medal success Johnson-Thompson, 23, hoped it would be. She is arguably, however, yet to reach her physical peak. She has also already targeted glory at Tokyo 2020, and, in the absence of the retired Jessica Ennis-Hill, may just have the circumstances needed to thrive. If she is to do so, the IAAF world championships - in August 2017 in London - would seem the ideal time and place.

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