Who are the top five players to silence their critics and come into the season in a purple patch of form?
It has often been said that “form is temporary but class is permanent”.
That phase perfectly defines the revival in form of some of the Premier League’s most derided figures in the early stages of the current campaign.
We take a look at some revitalised stars who have really caught the eye…
Marouane Fellaini (Manchester United)
After a tough start to his United career under previous managers David Moyes and Louis Van Gaal, Fellaini has featured regularly in current boss Jose Mourinho’s team sheet.
Following the Manchester side’s first two games against Bournemouth and Southampton, the Belgian was singled out as a stand-out performer. His strength lies in his versatility, which allow the capacity to play in a number of position. Fellaini also boasts a 90% passing accuracy. The Belgian has made a steady start to the season and with more consistency he could find himself as a regular starter.
Nicolas Otamendi (Manchester City)
Otamendi has been a man reborn under new City boss Pep Guardiola. Last season he hardly looked worth the £32 million that the Manchester club forked out him, but, in the absence of injury-prone captain Vincent Kompany, the Argentine international has had a resurgence and has quickly adapted to the new way of thinking at the Etihad.
His 88% passing accuracy is testament to that. The commanding defender has emerged as the cornerstone of City’s defence and since eliminating erratic straits from his game, such as the propensity to make a mistake and positional naivety, he looks every bit the prospect that Manchester City knew they were signing.
Heung-min Son (Tottenham Hotspur)
After almost leaving the North London side this summer, Son has grasped the opportunity given to him by manager Mauricio Pochettino and his form and goalscoring forays have made the South Korean one of the league’s most lethal finishers with four goals in only three outings.
Stepping out of Harry Kane’s shadow, Son has outperformed his striking partner and has to be one the first names on his manager’s teamsheet. Strikingly, the forward has already equalled his goalscoring tally from last season.
Theo Walcott (Arsenal)
Blighted with inconsistencies throughout his career, every season the same questions are asked of Walcott’s progression since he first caught the public eye as a 16-year-old.
However, he has sparkled in the past few games for Arsenal and it appears his omission from England’s Euro 2016 squad has reinvigorated the winger.
With 73% shot accuracy and three goals scored this season, the former Southampton forward looks unplayable and he seems to be thriving beside Alexis Sanchez in attack.
Raheem Sterling (Manchester City)
Sterling is going through a renaissance this season and has seen his stock rise under new management. He does not only appear to be a new player but a new man completely, playing with the same confidence and lack of fear that accompanied his rise to prominence while playing for Liverpool in two seasons ago.
The revitalised winger has even honed his goalscoring, with four goals to his name so far this term. He has also managed two assists and in this form Sterling looks unstoppable.
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