Player Focus: Five Prospects to Watch at the Upcoming Copa America

Ahead of WhoScored.com's detailed coverage throughout the upcoming Copa America, which kicks off with hosts Chile facing Ecuador on Thursday night (local time), we've taken a look at 5 youngsters who will be hoping to impress this summer.

Tournament favourites Argentina have opted for experience over youth in the most part, while Brazil have a host of new faces coming through following their unforgettable exit from the World Cup last year. We start then, with a Selecao star that has had a memorable 2015 thus far and is thought to have the scouts of Europe's finest keeping a watchful eye on his exploits this month.

Felipe Anderson (Brazil)

Having shaken things up over recent months reappointed Brazil manager Dunga has looked to the future with a lot of his picks this summer and it's fair to say the likes of Fabinho, Marquinhos, Casemiro, Firmino and Coutinho could all have been in focus here. We've opted instead to highlight Lazio's Felipe Anderson, who made his debut for Brazil as a substitute in their final warm up match against Mexico at the weekend.

The 22-year old, signed by the Biancocelesti from Santos in 2013, only really made his mark on the Serie A outfit in December ahead of the international break but it proved to be a whirlwind start to the year for the winger. Anderson would pick up 8 WhoScored.com man of the match awards between the start of December and April in Italy's top-flight - more than any other player over the course of the season - scoring 10 goals and registering 7 assists to help Lazio to a surprising third placed finish. He's unlikely to be in the initial starting XI but you can expect Anderson to stake a real claim for a place if given the chance, capable of playing on either wing, beating opponents with ease and scoring the odd wonder goal.

Jesus Corona (Mexico)

It's a strange predicament for Mexico, who have had to pick a squad for both the Copa America and next month's Gold Cup, with the latter clearly the priority to colourful coach Miguel Herrera. In the absence of the likes of Vela, Hernandez and Hector Herrera you can expect the greatest threat to come via versatile 22-year old Jesus Corona, who enjoyed an impressive 2014/15 campaign in Eredivisie as part of a Twente side that otherwise underwhelmed.

Indeed, Corona was the Dutch outfit's second highest rated player according to WhoScored.com, with a rating of 7.58 enough to rank 8th in the entire league courtesy of 9 goals and 4 assists from 27 appearances. The young winger completed 3.5 dribbles per game - the most by a distance in the Eredivisie - with only three players fouled more frequently (2.3 times per game).

Diego Rolan (Uruguay)

As Uruguay prepare to cope in the continued absence of star man Luis Suarez, much of the burden is expected to fall on the capable shoulders of Edinson Cavani. The PSG forward ended the season in scintillating form but elsewhere in Ligue 1 compatriot Diego Rolan was also making impressive progress, finishing the campaign on 15 goals, including 4 in his final 3 appearances.

The Bordeaux youngster has excelled in a centre forward role, scoring 9 times in 12 starts up front in Ligue 1, and could yet help to fill the gaping hole left in the side by Suarez's suspension. It's undoubtedly Rolan's finishing that has impressed most this season, with only 6 players scoring more in Ligue 1 despite 8 of the 22-year old's 36 appearances coming as a substitute. A conversion rate of 20.3% was mightily impressive for a player of his age and he's certainly one to watch as Uruguay look to escape group B along with favourites Argentina.

Derlis Gonzalez (Paraguay)

With goals against the likes of Porto and Real Madrid to his name in the Champions League, Basel winger Derlis Gonzalez aided in seeing the Swiss outfit progress to the knockout stages once again last season. He has begun to attract interest across Europe and will be hoping to see Paraguay out of an unenviable group of their own this summer, with plenty of suitors likely to be assessing his performances in Chile.

The 21-year old made his international debut last year and has racked up 8 more senior caps since as coach Ramon Diaz looks to revive an ageing attack line including the likes of Santa Cruz, Valdez and Barrios. He may have only scored 3 league goals to accompany his 3 strikes in the Champions League last season but Gonzalez's pace and work rate - averaging 2.9 tackles per game among Europe's elite in 2014/15 - will prove a valuable asset to Los Guaranies' bid to escape a group alongside both Argentina and Uruguay.

Jeison Murillo (Colombia)

In the wake of the retirement of long-serving captain Mario Yepes there was a place to fill at the heart of Jose Pekerman's defence alongside Cristian Zapata, with Inter-bound Jeison Murillo the most likely candidate. Having only turned 23 last month Murillo is still very young for a centre-back but impressed enough in his time at Granada to earn a move to San Siro as early as February, linking up with the faltering Milan giants upon the conclusion of the Copa America.

There are concerns over his susceptibility to injuries but Murillo is an impressive athlete at his peak with a strong leap - winning 3.3 aerial duels per game - and good pace. He'll come up against Brazil in the group stages but Colombia are expected to make light work of the likes of Peru and Venezuela, so the young defender's true mettle may be tested in the latter stages of the tournament this summer.

Which youngsters will you be looking out for at the Copa America this month? Let us know in the comments below