Five most underrated players in the English Premier League

The English Premier League plays home to some of the biggest stars in World Football, while we talk highly about the best players in the league as well as the worst in the league what we always miss is a string of players in-between the above mentioned two. And these are the players who turn out every weekend and give their best for the team. Consistent and hardworking, most of the players in the category are often denied the recognition that they deserve for their efforts. So here is a look at the top five underrated footballers in the English Premier League at the moment.

5- Rickie Lambert

While most of the Premier League fans classify Lambert as a championship striker, Southampton fans will be well aware of the talent this Englishman possesses. Signed for a bargain of £1 million in 2009 from Bristol Rovers, Lambert has been instrumental in the club’s two successive promotions. He scored through the lower leagues and proved himself as the top scoring English player in the EPL last season that is he scored more goals than Wayne Rooney, Theo Walcott, Daniel Sturridge and the other high profile English players. Lambert boasts an impressive record of 103 goals in 196 games and even scored in his England debut after being called up solely on the basis of merit. With a versatility of being a target man and an intelligent poacher, Lambert is one of the most underrated strikers in the league.

Ricky Lambert

4- Michael Carrick

While Liverpool has Steven Gerrard and Chelsea has Frank Lampard, the closest thing that United have to a midfield general is Carrick. He might not get the recognition that the other two receives but Carrick has established himself in a class of his own after the first retirement of Paul Scholes. He does all the dirty work that the team needs in midfield without much fuzz and more importantly he does it in a stealth mode. Carrick’s vision and passing coupled with his defensive ability has been a pivotal part in United’s success last season. Though the Premier League fans fails to give him the respect he deserves, his teammates who reap the benefits of his talent has high regards for the midfielder with last year’s Players’ Player of the Year award he won being the best proof for that.

Michael Carrick

3- Shane Long

Though Carrick is underrated he still has an advantage of being a “Manchester United” player, and that’s a luxury that West Brom’s Shane Long find elusive. Long, who was a second choice for most of the time last season, terrorized defenders with his pace and physical presence whenever he was given a chance to gaze the pitch. With one of the most impressive work rates in the league, the Irishman has proved to be a team player that ever team would wish to have. He was linked with a move to Liverpool a couple of years back, since then this talent has been pushed back into the underrated section despite producing blistering performances against high profile oppositions. At an age of 26 there is still a lot left that could be explored by the team from this expendable.

Shane Long

2- Mikel Arteta

He has seen the lights of Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain and Rangers in his career, arguably among the most experienced players in the league; Arteta hasn’t had the lime light he deserves for the efforts he put in for Arsenal. Arteta came into the side from Everton and has played a role similar to that of Michael Carrick at Manchester United. Though he hasn’t been able to fill the gap left by Patrick Vieira, Arteta has been an important part of the team so far. The stats supports this as he averaged 2.4 interceptions and 4.6 tackles a match last season along with being the player with the most successful pass accuracy in the league. From an attacker at Everton to an holding midfielder at Arsenal, Arteta has evolved well as a footballer and is someone who is worth having in an team.

Mikel Arteta

1- Pablo Zabaleta

Former manager Roberto Mancini once said that Zabaleta his favorite player in the club and the Italian had all the right to say so. Zabaleta has been City’s most consistent player for the past five years and has earned himself a tag of being the “Cult Hero” at the club. He might play the old fashioned game which has no dives and screaming histrionics but the player possess ever aspect that is required for a modern footballer. While most players find it hard to settle in the English league after moving from La Liga, Zabaleta has been an exception with great positioning and strength. While City has been on a spending spree every season since his arrival he has managed to overcome all the obstacles that came his way and cement his spot in the team. With the ability to play in right-back and defensive midfield, Zabaleta is a player who has been overlooked every time. But the player is finally starting to get the limelight he deserves after winning Player of the year award last season at the club.

Pablo Zabaleta