10 Players Who Need to Hit Form After October International Break
The international break is over and now it's time to get back to domestic matters, and for some Premier League players, those domestic matters are a lot more pressing than others.
Through a heady mix of injuries, bad luck or just plain bad form, things just weren't quite clicking for these 10 players before they headed off to play for their countries, so now it's time they put that right.
Memphis Depay
1 of 10
Despite generally impressing during the start of his Manchester United career, summer signing Memphis Depay has somewhat tailed off in recent weeks, making less of an impact on matches as United found a new instigator in Anthony Martial.
Memphis has been substituted in each of his last three starts for the club, with the call coming earlier on each occasion and even at half-time in the loss at Arsenal.
With a tricky trip to Everton to come, he'll have to get back to form quickly.
Diego Costa
2 of 10
After admitting that he came he came back to Chelsea overweight this summer, relayed by the Daily Mail, Diego Costa didn't exactly help himself gain match fitness with his antics against Arsenal in September, which earned him a suspension.
He'll be back for Aston Villa's visit on Saturday, though, and it would be no surprise if the Spain international unveiled a leaner, keener look, as his couple of weeks of intense training in Cobham will have given him the perfect opportunity to work on just that.
Struggling Chelsea need him to get back to his best and quickly.
Wilfried Bony
3 of 10
Admittedly, he's not been given many opportunities to develop any form, but with Manchester City hit hard over the international break, following injuries to David Silva and particularly Sergio Aguero, they are going to need Wilfried Bony to demonstrate exactly why he was worth spending £28 million on in January.
The Ivorian can be one of the very best forwards in the Premier League on his game, but City fans haven't exactly seen too much evidence of that.
It's time for the Bony we saw at Swansea City to reveal himself.
Eden Hazard
4 of 10
In quotes reported by Eurosport, it seems as though even Eden Hazard is at a loss to explain why he has been playing so poorly for Chelsea this season, with the Belgian admitting that he is in "the worst form of his life."
So electric as his club strolled to the Premier League title last season, in many ways, Hazard's poor displays have become the symbol of the shocking start to the campaign endured by Jose Mourinho's men, who go into Saturday's meeting with Aston Villa 16th in the table and craving some Hazard magic.
It has to come back sooner or later, right?
Wayne Rooney
5 of 10
Whether it is an issue of form or, more likely, the gradual declining of Wayne Rooney's talents is a debate for another day, but Manchester United could certainly do with seeing the best of their captain as they embark on a tough run of fixtures that starts with Saturday's trip to his former club, Everton.
With willing runners now stationed around him, as well the creativity of Juan Mata, Rooney really has no excuse not to be performing for Louis van Gaal.
He might find he's set for a few difficult conversations with his manager if he doesn't start doing so soon.
Cesc Fabregas
6 of 10
One of the most startling differences between the current Chelsea and the one of this time a year ago has been the lack of influence Cesc Fabregas is having, with the Spanish midfielder enduring a difficult second season since his return to the Premier League.
The Blues' king of assists in 2014/15, Fabregas has regressed dramatically, and he was unable to find solace in the international break, missing a penalty in Ukraine on the occasion of his 100th cap.
The former Arsenal man is one of those players you suspect is just too good to allow this to continue, but he needs to find his feet quickly if his team are to progress.
Martin Skrtel
7 of 10
It's all change at Liverpool, and when he gets down to work, new Anfield manager Jurgen Klopp will find Martin Skrtel is the most established centre-back at his new club, even though he hasn't been playing like that lately.
In the last few games of Brendan Rodgers' reign, Skrtel regressed to a defender who is far too easily dominated by tall, powerful forwards such as Aston Villa's Rudy Gestede and Everton's Romelu Lukaku, not appearing to be a centre-back who can be stronger than that.
Klopp is certain to arrive with his own ideas and preferences, so Skrtel needs to get back to his best.
Nemanja Matic
8 of 10
That's right: Another Chelsea player.
The drop-off in Nemanja Matic's displays this season has been somewhat staggering, with the sturdy, dependable and almost robotic defensive-midfield figure of 2014/15 looking a shadow of his former self as the opposition have outrun and outthought Mourinho's Chelsea.
Matic was sent off on international duty in Serbia's 2-1 defeat to Portugal, and as he returns to Chelsea, he'll do so knowing the dreadful displays of this season simply can't go on.
Harry Kane
9 of 10
This is a little harsh, perhaps, as it is really just goals missing from the hard-working Harry Kane's game, but the Tottenham Hotspur and England forward set a benchmark for himself with his wonderful displays last season, so it is only right that we judge him against that.
His own goal in the 2-2 draw at Swansea before the international break was, amazingly, the third time he's put the ball in his own net in three seasons, and it means he's scored as many goals for Spurs as he has against them so far in this campaign.
That will change soon enough, of course, and Kane will hope that it will be in Saturday afternoon's mouth-watering clash with a reinvigorated Liverpool.
Branislav Ivanovic
10 of 10
We'll end with another Chelsea player, shall we?
If Jose Mourinho is going to insist on not dropping Branislav Ivanovic from the team as he frequently has with John Terry this season, then the Serb has to improve or risk leaving the Blues vulnerable down his right-hand side.
Looking off the boil and unable to keep up with anyone who possesses even a semblance of pace, Ivanovic has been a pale imitation of last season's man of granite, who so impressed as the Blues won the title.
He has to get better soon, otherwise Mourinho needs to make a change.
