Below is a short list of players that have been integral parts of their team's success, or has been the best of a bad bunch on a struggling team. While some of these players won't be in the running for the player of the year awards come the end of the season, a couple of them arguably could be. This list is in no particular order and may contain a few holding midfielders, let's face it, they epitomise under-rated players.
Nigel De Jong (Manchester City)
The energetic Dutch midfielder raised a few eyebrows when he arrived from Hamburg last season. De
Jong, however, has silenced the doubters with a string of consistent performances this season and has been in integral part of City's chase for fourth spot. His physicality in City's engine room is a huge factor in providing the likes of Bellamy and
Tevez the quality of possession needed to fire their side to the top four.
Alexandre Song (Arsenal)
The young Cameroon international has come on leaps and bounds this season and his involvement in the Gunners free-flowing play is always huge. Song provides the side with the steel that they seemed to miss since Patrick
Viera left and his presence is a calming influence in the young side. An old head on young shoulders.
Karl Henry (Wolverhampton Wanderers)
I did warn that this list would include a lot of holding midfielders and the combative Henry deserves recognition for the role he has played in his side's fight to stay up. The club captain has adapted to life in the Premier League impressively and his inspirational play
could lead his side to safety. Most of the plaudits in the Wolves side go to the goal-scoring exploits of defender Jody
Craddock and the hard-working, honest endeavour of striker Kevin Doyle (you would think that should be the other way around) but Henry has played very well this season and could stay in the top division even if his team don't.
Carlos Cuellar (Aston Villa)
The tough Spanish defender had an up and down start to his career in England when he first joined from Scottish side Glasgow Rangers. He did adapt fairly quickly but he didn't start turning in the impressive performances that we have become accustomed to until he moved across to the right full-back berth he has now made his own. Villa's solid back-four does garner headlines, but more often than not those headlines concentrate on
Cuellar's partners at the back;
messrs Dunne, Collins and
Warnock.
Stephen Carr (Birmingham City)
There is a case for any of the Birmingham back four that have done so brilliantly for the team but Carr gets in ahead of his team-mates because of the fact that he retired from football 2 years ago. The former Irish international returned last season to help Alex
McGleish's side into the top flight and his play on the right hand side of the Blues' back four has been reminiscent of the player that made
PFA team of the year in years gone past.
Aaron Hughes (
Fulham)
The Northern Irishman has quietly gone about his business this season that has been such a success for the Cottagers. Hughes has played in every minute of every game this season and is a very important cog in Roy
Hodgson's side. Hughes has been played all over the back four but has formed a very solid partnership with the towering Norwegian
Brede Hangeland.
Michael Dawson (
Tottenham Hotspur)
Dawson's name has not been mentioned as a potential member of England's world cup squad but he has arguably been the most consistent English centre half in the Premier League this year. Dawson has not had it easy this season with the merry-go-round that is the centre half position at Spurs this season. Yes this is due to the struggles of
Ledley King and yes he is worth it but it cannot be easy for Dawson playing with a new partner nearly every week and his form has not suffered.
Ji-Sung Park (Manchester United)
Yes I know it's easy to put him in after the weekend but the Korean sums up everything that is so good about Manchester
United's squad. Whenever he is in the team his work-rate is second to none. Park has been out of the team this season with serious injuries but could be a vital cog in his sides hunt for another title.
Marc Wilson (Portsmouth)
Surprising to see a Portsmouth player on this list but the young Irish centre half has acquitted himself rather well in his first full season in top-flight football. Portsmouth are doomed to life in the Championship and I think all football fans hope that they can get themselves out this predicament. Perhaps if the people running the club showed as much grit and determination as Wilson has in the club's tough season, things may be a little better for the south coast club.
Charles N'Zogbia (
Wigan Athletic)
Along with Hugo
Rodallega,
N'Zogbia has been a revelation for the most inconsistent team ever in the Premier League.
N'Zogbia's talent was never in question at any stage in his career at Newcastle before and at
Wigan now, although his mindset was.
Wigan should survive this season and
N'Zogbia's creativity has been a
huge part of that. Basically when
N'Zogbia plays well, so do
Wigan.
N'Zogbia probably won't be at
Wigan next year, and boy will the
Lancashire side miss him.