Schurrle, Coutinho and the 5 Most Underrated Players in the Premier League
The Premier League are always quick to promote their leading players including Angel Di Maria, Yaya Toure and Eden Hazard.
But who are the less celebrated players in the Premier League who don’t get the attention and praise they so richly deserve?
Here I provide the five most underrated players in the Premier League on the basis of both their current profile and their importance to their clubs.
Andre Schurrle
1 of 5
Even though Andre Schurrle spent his summer winning the World Cup with Germany, he strangely still doesn’t get the love he deserves.
Indeed, it was Schurrle who provided the pass for Mario Gotze to score the winner in the final against Argentina, as well as scoring twice in the 7-1 semi-final rout of Brazil.
And yet other players in that Germany side, and now back in the Premier League, are celebrated far more than the Chelsea man.
Even at Chelsea he isn’t an automatic starter, and so far this season he has been on the bench for three of their seven Premier League games.
Philippe Coutinho
2 of 5
Such was Luis Suarez’s overwhelming brilliance last season it was difficult for any of his team-mates to share the limelight with him.
It meant Philippe Coutinho’s role in Liverpool’s title challenge and ultimate second placed finish was largely overlooked.
But the Brazilian’s attacking instincts contributed five goals, including the crucial winner in the 3-2 victory over Manchester City last April, and seven assists to Liverpool's campaign.
On the international stage he couldn’t even earn a place in the Brazil squad for the World Cup finals last summer, but he has since been called up by their new manager Dunga.
Julian Speroni
3 of 5
At the end of last season, the former Crystal Palace manager Tony Pulis received most of the praise for keeping the club in the Premier League.
However, Crystal Palace’s fans knew that their goalkeeper Julian Speroni also deserved to be recognised, and voted him their Player of the Year at the club’s annual awards.
Speroni has become one of the Premier League’s best and most consistent keepers, for it was his calm presence at the back and crucial saves that helped Palace finish as high as 11th last season.
The Argentinian goalkeeper, now in his 11th season at Palace, is adored at Selhurst Park—this was the fourth time he had been voted Player of the Year—but praise beyond SE25 has been harder to command, and he is yet to be capped by Argentina.
Steven Naismith
4 of 5
In the summer of 2012, Everton benefited from Rangers’ implosion in Scotland by signing their midfielder Steven Naismith on a free.
The signing generated little excitement at Goodison Park and it is true the Scot made a reasonably slow start in the Premier League.
But in the last two seasons under Roberto Martinez he has developed into one of the Premier League’s most potent attacking midfielders.
Last season he scored a healthy nine goals in 36 games and already this season he has four goals in just eight games.
Mile Jedinak
5 of 5
After already including Julian Speroni, it might have seemed reasonable to look beyond south London for other candidates, but it is impossible to compile this list without Mile Jedinak.
The Crystal Palace and Australian captain remains the very definition of underrated.
One of the Premier League’s most accomplished and consistent midfielders, Jedinak was ever present for Palace last season as they unexpectedly survived in the top flight.
He doesn’t provide goals, scoring just one from the penalty spot last season, but he is a commanding presence in the centre of midfield, protecting the back four and brilliantly breaking up play.
