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There are a number of quality players in the Premier League who fail to get the recognition they truly deserve. These players perform week-in week-out but too often get overlooked because they are not considered to be a part of the English top flight’s elite group of ‘big stars’. Here I name my top five most underrated first division players.
5. Tom Huddlestone – Hull City
Tom Huddlestone has always been a hugely underrated player and he has continually slipped under the radar throughout the entirety of his career.
The 27-year-old midfielder may not be the usual ‘glitz and glam’ type of player who typically earns the plaudits, but he is finally beginning to receive the attention he deserves following a long-awaited haircut and a series of impressive performances throughout the first half of the season.
Hull’s early success in the top flight has in large part been down to the control they have had in midfield, particularly at home, and Huddlestone has been a major factor behind this. He has formed a fantastic partnership with Jake Livermore in the centre of the park and the two have become a vital duo in Steve Bruce’s version of the 3-5-2 system.
This season, he has earned a Performance Score of 498 points – higher than any other Hull player – whilst accumulating 10 Squawka Best awards. He has also created 34 chances, completed 50% of his tackles and registered a pass accuracy of 80%.
His recent displays have even called some to suggest his suitability for an England call-up and with the World Cup just under six months away, who is to say Roy Hodgson will rule him out of contention.
4. Jordan Henderson – Liverpool
Despite receiving copious amounts of criticism since making the switch to Anfield, Jordan Henderson has remained committed to the cause and this season his previously forecasted potential is finally being realised.
The midfielder has battled through this tough time at Liverpool and people are now beginning to see that there is, in fact, a lot to his game. Whilst his £16 million transfer initially seemed a huge price to pay, the club are finally reaping the rewards of Kenny Dalglish’s bold investment.
Henderson has been an integral part of an impressive trio with Steven Gerrard and Lucas in the middle of the park. He has started every single Premier League match for the Reds this season, creating 39 chances, assisting five goals and registering a pass accuracy of 87%.
We are now seeing exactly the sort of talented performances that the midfielder promised during his time at Sunderland and, if his current form persists, Liverpool could find themselves with a ready-made replacement for ageing skipper, Steven Gerrard.
3. Pablo Zabaleta – Manchester City
Pablo Zabaleta has been a loyal servant to Manchester City since his move from Espanyol in 2008 and he has impressed consistently throughout his time at the Etihad.
He is the ultimate team man and he is always willing to do the hard work for City while his companions earn the majority of the plaudits and despite his inclusion in last season’s PFA Team of the Year, he still fails to receive the credit he truly deserves.
This season he has made 17 appearances for Manuel Pellegrini’s side and whilst he has won 53% of his attempted tackles, he has also helped to fashion 14 chances for his team-mates. The Argentine international is a rugged defender and an adept attacker and he offers the Citizens a fantastic level of dynamism when playing at full-back.
2. Gareth Barry – Everton
Gareth Barry is, without doubt, one of the most underrated players in the Premier League and since his move to Everton he has been phenomenal, instantly becoming the heart of the club’s midfield.
It’s a real shame that it has taken him this long to move away from Manchester City, when in fact, he has been playing at this level for years. His lack of game time at the Etihad saw his excellent talent put to waste and is current loan spell at Goodison Park has given Premier League spectators the chance to witness him in regular action – during this time he has not disappointed.
The Toffees have lost just one game when Barry has started and this statistic is by no means a coincidence. He has brought a sense of balance to the team’s midfield and his growing understanding with James McCarthy has been a real success story.
His performance score of 320 points ranks him far below some of the club’s other stars but this is because his contribution to the team is hard to quantify. The 32-year-old has been crucial to Everton’s magnificent form this season and at this rate he deserves to be going to the World Cup ahead of some of the players currently in the England set up.
1. James Milner – Manchester City
James Milner is City’s Mr. Consistency and whilst his performances are often undervalued in an England shirt, his displays at club level see him rated very highly among the Citizen’s supporters.
Despite the abundance of midfield quality Manuel Pellegrini has at his disposal, Milner has still received plenty of game time, impressing on a continual basis.
He has been deployed on both the left and the right side of midfield, making 18 appearances in total. In fact, he has missed just two of the club’s Premier League matches this campaign, featuring on more occasions than Fernandinho, David Silva, Jesus Navas, Javi Garcia and youngster, Jack Rodwell. Only Yaya Toure and Samir Nasri have played in more fixtures than the 28-year-old this term.
Like Gareth Barry his work rate, commitment and general quality often go unnoticed and his Performance Score of just 103 points is a prime example of this ‘invisibility’ in action. Milner often does the hard work allowing City’s creative players the time and space to express themselves. He is a reliable, selfless player and because of this he is the most underrated player in the English top flight.
