25 Players Who Will Surprise Us in Second Half of the Season

The second half of the season is already well underway across the majority of Europe's most popular and largest leagues.

Only 14 games remain for the English Premier League, 17 matches in Spain's La Liga, 16 in the Italian Serie A and French Ligue 1 Oranje, and still 14 in the German Bundesliga.

There is still plenty of Cup action left from the UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League, the English FA Cup and all the rest of the national cup competitions.

With so much action left between now and the end of May, there are bound to be those players that surprise us all.

Vagner Love

For several seasons now, we all have enjoyed Vagner Love's blue dreadlocks on the pitch for Russian Premiership club CSKA Moscow.

However, this past season, the rise of Seydou Doumbia on CSKA's front line saw Love start to look at a move.

He got it this January, moving to Flamengo in his native Brazil, and should show a marked improvement in his game.

Peter Odemwingie

Last season West Bromwich Albion striker Peter Odemwingie finished with 15 goals.

This season he has only managed four goals as an injury slowed the start of his campaign.

I would expect him to make a marked improvement over the second half. He could be looking to push through a summer transfer to a larger club.

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain

Arsene Wenger's support and faith in the signing of young Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is proving to bear fruit. The youngster already has shown his impressive slate of skills.

It is still a debate as to whether he should take the starting spot upon the return of Gervinho later in the month, but he definitely has become a key figure for Wenger and should show improvement for the rest of the campaign.

Giuseppe Rossi

If Giuseppe Rossi wants the chance to get out of Spain or at least move up in La Liga, the American- born Italian international has to impress in the second half.

With only three league goals this season, his stock is almost non-existent. He has a long way to go in order to make himself look purchasable.

Andy Carroll

I almost hate to do it, but I have to go out on a limb at some point.

Andy Carroll has looked like he may have started to make a little bit of a difference as his confidence seems to have returned, even if ever so slightly.

However, the return of Luis Suarez is either going to be great or detrimental to his cause. If Carroll wishes to stay at Liverpool, the the rest of the second half has to be about doing what he has to do to get back.

Frazier Campbell

Only recently returned to Sunderland's first team, striker Frazier Campbell scored one of the best goals of the season a few games ago.

He could be the missing link in attack that Martin O'Neil has been lacking since he took charge of the club back in December.

Fernando Torres

More than a year removed from his massive £50 million transfer from Liverpool, Chelsea's Fernando Torres has been little of what he was thought to be.

The once-prolific Spanish striker has failed to hit the goal trail since arriving at Stamford Bridge, but he could finally be turning the corner.

Granted, that has been said a time or two before.

Steven Pienaar

The 30-year-old South African left the Blue side of Merseyside at Everton to join Tottenham Hotspur a year ago, thinking he was headed to greener pastures.

However, that never materialized, and he has since seen himself return to the Toffee's this January in order to prove that he is worthy of a first-place team. If he thinks he will get a transfer out of White Hart Lane this coming summer, he needs to prove his worth while the crowds are watching.

Dirk Kuyt

Last season Liverpool's flying Dutchman took the lead in attack following the departure of Fernando Torres and finished the season as the Reds' leading scorer.

So far this season, he had a rough start, but since the second half got underway his form has improved., He has two goals in his last three games, including his 50th EPL goal for the Reds against Wolverhampton in their last victory.

Papiss Demba Cisse

Senegalese strike Papiss Demba Cisse left German Bundesliga side FC Freiburg this January to join EPL side Newcastle United.

He scored in his debut and he is tipped to impress in the second half of the season after having already netted nine goals in Germany before moving to England.

Playing alongside one of the English league's hottest strikers in Demba Ba also allows Cisse more room to make his name.

Lucas Barrios

Borussia Dortmund striker Lucas Barrios has had a frustrating start to his season with only one league goal in 12 appearances.

However, he has scored in back-to-back games between the league and the German Cup and looks to be heating up to his former form. With the summer coming up, he might be playing for a transfer.

Djibril Cisse

Former Lazio striker Djibril Cisse has returned to England and scored in his debut for Queens Park Ranger .

However, despite his Red-Card suspension, Cisse could be part of the group that can keep QPR up and out of the championship.

Milos Krasic

While Serbian Milos Krasic is yet to get out of Juventus, he could still yet move to Russia.

No matter where he goes, he is due to make a difference.

Nikica Jelavic

Nikica Jelavis, Everton's latest strike weapon, is needed to be an instant success as the Toffees have been struggling to solve their problems up front all season.

The question that needs answering is this: Can the Scottish Premier League success make the switch and be effective on the EPL defenses?

Yoann Gourcuff

Olympique Lyon midfielder Yoann Gourcuff was once believed  to be one of France's next major stars.

This season he has seen setback after setback, but with the second half ripe for the taking, he is due to make a comeback and impress in the coming matches.

Josip Ilicic

Palermo midfielder Josip Ilicic was a key to the club's offense last season alongside of Javier Pastore.

The first half of this season saw him only manage three assists out of the middle of the park, but he should have a much better second half if he can remain on the pitch.

Tim Ream

Yes, he is an American, and while many people believe that Americans have no place in the English Premier League despite the success of players like Clint Dempsey, Brian McBride, Tim Howard, Stuart Holden and current on-loan forward Landon Donovan, there is proof in the performances.

The Bolton Wanderers acquisition of defender Tim Ream, another American player, only proves that players raised in Major League Soccer are starting to get more attention from European clubs than ever before.

Ream steps into the shoes of Gary Cahill, once his move is completed, and has the chance to surprise everyone right out of the gates as a new stalwart that Cahill truly failed to be in his last half of a season at the Reebok.

Eduardo Vargas

Eduardo Vargas was the major acquisition of Serie A club Napoli this January.

He will be a welcomed addition up top, alongside Ezequiel Lezzevi and Edinson Cavani, and will surprise all with a strong showing in the second half of the 2011-12 season.

Nolan Roux

Nolan Roux scored a brace in his debut for French side Lille against St. Etienne and looks ready to have a great second half of the season after joining from Brest.

The departure of Moussa Sow made room for Roux, who will be needed to step into the departed players shoes rather quickly. He seems to have done just that.

Hugo Rodallega

Hugo Rodallega is set to leave Wigan Athletic this summer on a free transfer, but in order to get a good opportunity he needs a strong second half.

I look for him to produce for the sake of his  next contract rather than trying to help his already doomed-to-relegation side.

Keisuke Honda

Keisuke Honda, CSKA Moscow's Japanese attacking midfielder, failed to get out of Russia during January as his proposed move to Serie A side Lazio collapsed in the final stages.

I expect him to play harder than ever in what will actually be the first half of his regular season in Russia and the second half of their 2011-12 UEFA Champions League campaign. He is now playing to prove himself of high enough value once again to be picked up in the summer.

Jonjo Shelvey

Jonjo Shelvey, Liverpool's young attacking midfielder, is poised to make a huge impact in the coming months as the Reds start their run-in.

The 2011 PFA Young Player of the Year had a five-goal loan spell to Blackpool in the first half of the campaign before being recalled due to multiple squad injuries.

Xherdan Shaqiri

Xherdan Shaqiri, FC Basel's 20-year-old midfield starlet, has just been picked up by Bayern Munich as reported by ESPNsoccernet.com .

The youngster has been key to Basel's UEFA Champions League trip to the round of 16 and will remain with them until the start of Bayern's next season in the late days of July.

With his price tag already paid, he will have to have a great second half, knowing that he is about to make a great step forward in his career.

Paul Scholes

Legendary Manchester United midfielder Paul Scholes returned to the club this winter in the midst of a crushing injury cirsis and has already proven he still has the goods.

The 37-year-old veteran will be a key squad member as they start their run-in with hopes of bagging another title. A strong second half by Scholes will surprise all of his doubters.

Joshua McEachran

Chelsea's Joshua McEachran completed a loan deal to Swansea City during the January Transfer Window.

While many Chelsea fans and followers of the player believe in his potential, he now has a chance to surprise those who are not as keen supporters that he can produce when given an opportunity for more regular action.

Conclusion

There are surely more players that we all believe either will or won't surprise us in the coming run-in of the season.

Put your players to surprise in the comments section below.

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