Huddersfield Town's decision to part company with Mark Lillis has shone the spotlight on the Academy set-up.

Dean Hoyle admitted it wasn't an easy decision, paying tribute to popular former Town player Lillis as a "fantastic ambassador for the club and the academy".

But Hoyle is keen for the Academy to produce more players capable of contributing to the first team.

It will be some years before the impact of this decision can be gauged, with the new recruit responsible for prospects as young as eight years old.

In the meantime, the older age groups are flourishing - boosted by players signed in their late teens - and while Town seek to polish the set-up as a whole, there are some jewels continuing to shine.

Frankie Bunn led his u21s to PL II play-off success at the weekend with an extremely young squad, featuring two players still eligible for u16 football.

Jacob Hanson, Regan Booty and Rekeil Pyke all played the full season at that level despite being U18s, while first year scholar Lewis O'Brien is the Academy Player of the Year.

Philip Billing and Flo Bojaj, both recruited past the age of 16, have already begun to challenge David Wagner's senior squad.

It won't be overnight, but here are six more players who have the potential to do the same in the coming years.

Regan Booty

Video Loading

Son of former Town player and coach Martyn, Regan Booty has been nurtured in the Academy since he was nine years old.

After first featuring for the u21s as a 16-year-old, he wore the captain's armband for last weekend's play-off success, despite still being only 18 years old, and he turned in an assured performance in the heart of midfield.

David Wagner will surely appreciate his quality technique and eye for a pass, while he's also a dab hand at set pieces.

A familiar name to Town fans after making the first team bench in March, his ability to lead in an older age group underlines his maturity and bodes well for his chances at making the step up.

Jordan Williams

Video Loading

Still eligible to play his football in the u16 set-up, Jordan Williams had to fit in his u21 training ahead of last weekend's play-off around going to school.

Nominally a defender, he came off the bench at Bramall Lane to make a crucial impact - setting up the opener for Will Boyle and winning the ball for Jacob Hanson to slot home the winner.

A local lad from Meltham, Jordan is one of the Academy's most exciting talents, and has represented England at u17 level.

Another who has been in Town's system since his younger days, he was one of the best players on the pitch at Bramall Lane, and his propensity to stand out when facing players up to five years his senior should have supporters salivating.

He has time on his hands though, and Frankie Bunn admitted he has been introduced to u21 football a little earlier than he would have liked. One for the long term.

Jack Senior

Professional Development League 2 Play Off Final - Sheffield United U21 (1) v Huddersfield Town (2) - Jack Senior.

Left back Jack Senior hails from Halifax and has been wearing the blue and white stripes since the age of 10.

He signed his first professional deal last summer and was included on the pre-season tour of Marbella with the first team under Chris Powell.

Senior's attacking instincts mean he can be utilised on the left wing - but his ability to contribute at both ends of the pitch, combined with plenty of energy to get up and down the line, will be music to the ears of David Wagner.

He hasn't missed a minute of u21 football this term and it wasn't surprising to see him included in the squad that David Wagner took to Spain immediately upon taking charge at Town.

The issues at left back are well-documented, and it is hoped Chris Lowe is the answer here, but there is definitely room for Senior to provide competition at the very least.

Danny Kane

Barclays U21 Premier League fixture Coventry City Fc U21 v Huddersfield Town AFC U21 played at the RICOH Arena. L-R Coventry's Jacob Whitmore attempts to block Huddersfield's Jack Senior's cross. 25/04/16

Recruited in 2013, Danny Kane is an Ireland u19 international centre back.

He stood strong and firm in the face of Sheffield United's onslaught at Bramall Lane - proving himself to be a worthy adversary to Che Adams, who has been regularly turning out and scoring for the Blades' first team in League One.

Named Ireland's u17 Player of the Year in 2015, Kane is a strong and confident defender, who is unafraid to play out from the back - an essential skill if he is to make an impact under the Wagner philosophy.

An astute reader of the game, he is quick to nip in with an interception to curtail an attack before it can trouble his goalkeeper, and he's not shy to chip in with a few goals either.

Ryan Schofield

Professional Development League 2 Play Off Final - Sheffield United U21 (1) v Huddersfield Town (2) - Save by Town goalkeeper Ryan Schofield.

Having watched the play-off final only last weekend, it's impossible not to include Ryan Schofield in this list.

Unknown to the majority of fans before that date in Sheffield, Schofield had a very good shout for the Man of the Match award - although given he isn't old enough to drink it would have to be a celebratory bottle of water rather than bubbly.

He's only 16 years old, but he had spectators on their feet with a string of brilliant saves to keep Town in the game, particularly in the first half.

Supporters haven't had much opportunity to see Schofield in action, given he by rights should be playing for the u16 group, but they'll like what they've seen.

Nothing appears to faze him either. Keen to play out from the back and use his feet, he wasn't troubled by the fact one of those passes fell to the opposition striker and he had to be bailed out by Regan Booty, and the young stopper wasn't tempted to immediately start booting the ball long as an insurance policy.

He's very young, but the potential is undoubted.

Jack Boyle

Jack Boyle

Another diamond spotted early, Jack Boyle has been with Town since the u10s.

He started his u18 career early and shone at that level, earning a deserved promotion to the u21s, making nine appearances under Frankie Bunn as a first year scholar.

His versatility should be a bonus as he tries to make the step up, given he can play as a no.10 or on either wing.

Boyle is blessed with good feet and superior technical qualities, plus the ability to score goals at any level he's played at. Top scorer for the u18s this term, he also added three at u21 level.

His first pro deal was signed last summer and keeps him at Town until 2018. David Wagner has shown a liking for versatile attacking midfielders, and if Boyle can continue his progression then he is one the boss will be keeping a close eye on.