Over the past couple of weeks, attention has started to turn to who will pick up the various individual awards at the end of the season. As far as the PFA Player of the Year accolade is concerned, it appears to be a two-horse race between Manchester City playmaker Kevin De Bruyne and Liverpool winger Mohamed Salah and while Salah has been relentless, De Bruyne may benefit from the voting sheets being handed out earlier in 2018. Salah also finds himself topping the race for the Golden Boot in the Premier League but with Harry Kane controversially being awarded a goal against Stoke City last weekend, that battle could go down to the wire. However, there are players in English football's top tier who are not going to get much recognition due to the perception that they have not necessarily made a notable contribution.
Like with a Betfred Promo, midfielder Paul Pogba finds himself undervalued on a large platform. The Manchester United midfielder has been in and out of Jose Mourinho's starting lineup at times this season, while he also missed much of the opening months of the campaign through injury. Nevertheless, Pogba has still managed to post a return of five goals and nine assists from 21 matches. The argument will be that someone who cost United a club-record fee should still be posting more impressive numbers but given that the French international has had a stop-start year and has not always completed matches, he deserves more credit for playing a key role in keeping his club in second place in the standings.
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Arsenal have endured a disappointing campaign and their attempt to win the Europa League has got considerably tougher having been drawn against Atletico Madrid in the semi-finals, but Arsene Wenger will be pleased with the efforts of Alex Iwobi this season. The creative midfielder could have dropped down the pecking order when being caught up in a disciplinary issue in January, but the Nigerian international has continued to produced his fair share in the final third. The 21-year-old has only made 16 starts in the Premier League since the beginning of August, but he has two goals and five assists to his name - only Mesut Ozil and Aaron Ramsey have created more goals for the Gunners in the top flight this season. Iwobi sometimes attracts criticism but some of it is undeserved.
Burnley have undoubtedly been the surprise package of the Premier League this season and the Clarets are on course to finish in seventh place in the table. Goalkeeper Nick Pope and central defensive duo James Tarkowski and Ben Mee have received most of the praise, but Johann Berg Gudmundsson has emerged as a vital cog on the flank. While the Icelandic international has posted two goals and six assists this season and has featured for the third most minutes of any outfield player in Sean Dyche's squad, the 27-year-old's defensive contribution in wide positions and from set pieces often goes unnoticed and the former Charlton Athletic man has more than played his part in Burnley current possessing the fourth best defensive record in the top flight.
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Many people were surprised when Jordon Ibe opted to leave Liverpool for Bournemouth in 2016 and after a less-than-impressive first campaign, it appeared as though the winger had made the wrong choice. However, Ibe's has made much more of an impact this season with two goals and six assists being registered. That return has gone a little under the radar, which is an injustice to the player who has created the most goals for Cherries. At 22 years of age, Ibe still has room for improvement but there are signs that he is moving in the right direction at a time when Eddie Howe will be considering whether to offer the player an extension to his contract, which has just over two years to run.
DeAndre Yedlin of Newcastle United is another player used on the flank who does not necessarily get the credit which he deserves. The American has made the second most starts for the Magpies this season and has featured frequently over the past couple of months as the North-East outfit have moved clear of the relegation zone. The pacey 24-year-old still has work to do to develop into the defender which he suggested he could be with his performances at the 2014 World Cup, but the full-back has made giant strides from the inexperienced youngster which joined Tottenham Hotspur on the back of initially representing his country on the biggest stage four years ago.
