English Premier League: 10 Under-the-Radar Players to Watch This Season

The 10 under-the-radar stars to watch in the Premier League this season may not be future World Players of the Year, but they will be instrumental in helping their sides get over the finish line this year. These are the 10 important names to watch over the coming months.

Scott Parker, the Writers Player of the Year last season, was not a big-money move nor a standout superstar name. Once more we may be looking at a group of players who are just as likely to pick up the Player of the Season accolade.

Yohan Cabaye, Newcastle

It was an outstanding piece of business on the part of Alan Pardew to pick up Yohan Cabaye for a fee in the region of £4 million.

The midfielder comes off a very impressive 2010/11 campaign with Lille, capturing the domestic double and securing his place as one of Ligue 1’s best performers. The industrious midfielder will become an instant hit at Newcastle with his work rate and desire to close opposition players down.

Someone who can play as a creative outlet from midfield or a ball-winner, I expect him to go on to bigger things than Newcastle United, with all respect to the club.

Tom Cleverly, Manchester United

While many were anxiously awaiting the arrival of Wesley Sneijder to Manchester, few knew of the talent Alex Ferguson already possessed in his squad.

Cleverly enjoyed successful loan spells in the past with Watford and Wigan, on both occasions being the standout performer for each club.

He came on as a second-half substitute in Manchester United’s Community Shield win over rivals Manchester City and immediately looked the part.

He displayed signs of a confident player, always looking for the ball and a chance to create an opening to goal.

Along with the other big money signing’s that Ferguson made this summer, he definitely got it right with Cleverly, choosing to keep the player in the first team at United and allow him to blossom into the player many expect him to be.

Daniel Sturridge, Chelsea

With all the talk of the exciting arrival of Spain international Juan Mata and the forever-misfiring Fernando Torres, many will forget that Chelsea have an outstanding young performer on their hands.

Daniel Sturridge enjoyed an incredibly successful spell on loan for the second half of last season with Bolton Wanderers and was instrumental in helping Owen Coyle’s side avoid the drop.

With the eight goals in 12 games for Bolton last year, Chelsea manager, Andre Villas-Boas will want to look internally to solve the growing problems the club may face in the striker department.

Didier Drogba and Nicolas Anelka are no longer the players they once were, and along with new signing Romelu Lukaku, Villas-Boas will find comfort in a player who is already well suited and tested in the English game.

Jose Enrique, Liverpool

Following a successful outing for Newcastle United last term, Enrique started to show ambitions greater than that of the club from the North East.

While there was to be no bidding war for the talented left-back, it took an incredibly long time for a top team to come in for the Spaniard. Eventually it was Liverpool who picked up Enrique for a fee of £5 million and finally managed to shore up a position that caused a problem for much of last year.

Enrique will quietly slot into a team laden with big-money signings and others looking to repay faith shown in them by manager Kenny Dalglish.

He is an astute defender who is confident going forward and will add consistency to a sometimes shaky Liverpool backline.

Raul Meireles, Chelsea

This is one of the deals that managed to sneak in at last minute before the transfer window shut on Wednesday. Meireles might have been third or fourth choice on Andre Villas-Boas’ list of creative midfield players, but the former Liverpool and Porto man will bring something different to this Chelsea side.

An experienced and well-adapted midfielder, Meireles was only able to fully showcase his ability once Roy Hodgson had moved on from Liverpool.

He is a player who is direct, will score goals and, most importantly, add an alternative to an aging Frank Lampard.

While he is not the glamour signing everyone at Chelsea may have wanted, he is certainly a fine addition to a squad challenging on four fronts this season.

Sebastian Coates, Liverpool

An unknown to most in the Premier League, Coates was able to make a name for himself following an impressive Copa America this summer.

The Uruguayan giant will join the bustle of the Premier League at the young age of 20, yet his size might compensate for a lack of experience.

Perhaps not a player who will be considered first choice for Kenny Dalglish at Anfield, he is still a very smart buy who can develop into an outstanding centre back with the guidance of Jamie Carragher.

Martin Kelly, Liverpool

Another at Liverpool who will be looking to make an impression under Kenny Dalglish, Martin Kelly was brought into the Liverpool first team last season following a string of impressive performances.

Alongside Anfield veteran Jamie Carragher, Kelly looked assured in defence, hardly putting a foot wrong and showing exceptional quality going forward as well.

He suffered an injury toward the end of last year that ended his season prematurely but if he can stay fit for a long enough, he will make the left-back spot his own. He is an option to play in central defence as well.

Stuart Holden, Bolton Wanderers

A player who was almost left in limbo when he arrived at Burnley on request of Owen Coyle for a trial, only to find that days later Coyle had signed as manager for Bolton.

Luckily for Stuart Holden, the American’s drive and ability left a lasting impression on Coyle, and he was soon signed up by the Trotters.

Holden’s career in the Premier League has sadly been hampered by injury but his quality was certainly missed when he missed out on large parts of last season.

He’s currently on the comeback trail from injury, but expect him to play a big part for Owen Coyle’s side. A creative spark and a revelation in midfield, he’s proof that an American can hack it when it comes to the beautiful game.

Bryan Ruiz, Fulham

Fulham have been making great strides over the past 18 months to secure outstanding talent from abroad that may he been overlooked by Europe’s giants. Bryan Ruiz, signed from FC Twente, becomes the latest impressive addition to a Fulham side looking for another successful outing in the Europa League.

Ruiz arrives at Craven Cottage with a marvellous record of around a goal every two games for Twente and is a player who is well versed in the demands of European competition.

The big money and glamour signings of West London rivals Chelsea may have eclipsed this pickup by Fulham, but have no doubt that Ruiz will take the league by storm.

Comfortable as both a winger and an out-and-out striker, he will fire his way into a starring role in the Premier League and soon the attention of Europe’s biggest and best.

Charles N’Zogbia, Aston Villa

A Frenchman who always seemed destined to join up with Arsene Wenger at Arsenal, Charles N’Zogbia finds himself at Villa Park as replacement for the departed Ashley Young.

With N’Zogbia’s pace and quality of delivery, Villa will look to use him as a supply line for striker Darren Bent.

Another who is well settled in the Premier League, N’Zogbia has done well to move away from a side constantly battling relegation at Wigan. He will now look to make good use of the step up in quality of players he has around him, as well as a manager who will get the best out of his ability in Alex McLeish.