Manchester United, Arsenal, Southampton, Liverpool and Everton players make the list, which looks at the English players who have stood out in this year’s Premier League.
Here are our nominees…
Leighton Baines
Unlucky to not make the full shortlist, Baines has enjoyed a fantastic season marauding down Everton’s left flank. If not for the consistency of Ashley Cole, Baines would have been an England regular years ago, but this season the Everton player has outperformed his illustrious compatriot, and is certainly one of the best English players in the league at the moment.
Michael Carrick
Although Carrick is not the most glamorous inclusion on the main shortlist, he has been an integral part of Manchester United’s title success, elegantly carving through the opposition with his passing to provide the ammunition for their wonderful strike force. In a team that can seem unbalanced in the midfield at times, Carrick has turned in his best season yet at United.
Rickie Lambert
The top scoring English player in the Premier League with 14 goals, Lambert has stepped up easily from the Championship to demonstrate his class in a Southampton side who will likely end up purring comfortably into next season in a mid-table position. Lambert has led the line perfectly in a relatively young side that had to recover from a nightmare start in the division, and his contribution to Southampton’s survival cannot be overstated.
Glen Johnson
Johnson has had an excellent season under Brendan Rodgers at Liverpool, and he now looks to have shaken off the defensive inconsistencies that plagued him earlier in his career. Johnson is a fine example of the modern attacking full back, and with his positioning and defensive awareness improving this season, he looks a more complete player than ever.
Theo Walcott
It is fair to say the best parts of Walcott’s season were condensed into a three month period around the turn of the year, but what a three months! At times the forward was simply unplayable, and the hat trick against Newcastle was as good as any performance in the league this season. Walcott needs to extend this level over the whole season to really fulfil his potential, but with his future now settled at Arsenal, he should only get better over the next three years.
Wayne Rooney
Overshadowed by Robin Van Persie, and beset by rumours of a summer departure and accusations of being unfit, Rooney has had a difficult year at Manchester United. However he has still been an important part of the United side, moving all around the formation to ensure the team maintains its attacking threat, and his influence on their title win has perhaps been underrated.
image: © Alfonso Jimenez
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
