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The most underrated players in the Premier League

Armchair pundit Rohan Banerjee considers some of the top flight's unsung heroes

Thursday 19 December 2013 15:36 GMT

Pablo Zabaleta

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The Premier League is not shy of hyping certain players.

It would be forgivable to mistakenly think Wayne Rooney lives in a perpetual slow motion replay with his mouth wide open in celebration.

But as a consequence, other players fail to get the recognition they deserve.

So here we select an XI that go about their day jobs without any fuss.

These are the players that regularly outperform some of the 'big stars' of the English top flight but are all too often overlooked.

Check out our XI in the gallery below.

You can also let us know who you think warrants more attention in the comments section.

The most underrated players in the Premier League

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1/11The most underrated players in the Premier League

The most underrated players in the Premier League

<b>GK - Jussi Jaaskelainen(West Ham) </b><br/> Admittedly, rugby tackling Gary Hooper to gift Norwich a penalty last month didn't do West Ham any favours, but for the most part Jaaskelainen has been one of the most consistent goalkeepers in the Premier League. Signed by Colin Todd for a fee of just £100,000, he spent 15 years at Bolton Wanderers which included two campaigns on the continent. When Bolton were eventually relegated in 2012, Jaskelainen moved to West Ham on a free transfer. <br/> <br/> <b>Did you know?</b><br/> The Finnish stopper has eight clean sheets in the Premier League this season, a total matched only by Everton's Tim Howard who has faced 36 less shots.

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The most underrated players in the Premier League

<b>LB - Ben Davies (Swansea City)</b><br/> As a product of Swansea's youth academy, along with last season's League Cup success, Davies must be considered to be one of the club's proudest recent achievements. At just 20-years-old, a long term injury to Neil Taylor has granted him a regular starting spot for Michael Laudrup's side with some assured performances at the back being impressively added to by occasional attacking skirmishes, resulting in two goals this term. <br/> <br/> <b>Did you know?</b><br/> When Davies scored against Stoke last season, he became Swansea's youngest ever scorer in the Premier League.

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The most underrated players in the Premier League

<b>CB - Dejan Lovren (Southampton) </b><br/> The 24-year-old Croatian defender sits at the heart of the season so far's joint tightest defence (with Everton). He joined Southampton from Lyon for a fee believed to be around £8.5m and The Saints' lofty league position suggests he might be well worth the outlay. He's also not afraid to get forward - with nine senior goals during his professional career; he popped up with the winner at Anfield back in September. <br/> <br/> <b>Did you know?</b><br/> Playing at centre half, Lovren has made 40 interceptions. In the same position, only Laurent Koscielny of Arsenal (43) and Chico Flores of Swansea (42) have made more.

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The most underrated players in the Premier League

<b>CB - Mike Williamson (Newcastle)</b><br/> Having initially plied his trade in the lower leagues of English football, the journeyman defender seems to have finally found a home in the North East, nearing 100 league appearances for the Magpies. Since Newcastle won promotion to the Premier League in 2010, they have kept 33 clean sheets - understatedly, Williamson has started 23 of these. Confident on the ball, the centre back is also partial to a step over from time to time. <br/> <br/> <b>Did you know?</b><br/> Williamson has only committed four fouls in 11 Premier League games this season, while picking up no bookings or red cards.

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The most underrated players in the Premier League

<b>RB - Pablo Zabaleta (Manchester City)</b><br/> With City's long list of marquees, Zabaleta's reportedly £7m switch from Espanyol would barely raise an eyebrow these days; but the Argentine has proven his quality and commitment to the club on numerous occasions. A heart on sleeve fullback with a tank of stamina that would shame some wingers, Zabaleta bombs forward with the best of them without ever forgetting to track back. <br/> <br/> <b>Did you know?</b><br/> Zabaletta has assisted five goals this season, more than any other defensive player.

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The most underrated players in the Premier League

<b>LM - Yoan Gouffran (Newcastle) </b><br/> Signed as a relative unknown from Bordeaux for just £500,000, Gouffran represents Alan Pardew's continual knack of thrifting the French market. Incredibly versatile, Gouffran can comfortably play almost anywhere from the midfield up. He scored the winner against QPR to secure his club's Premier League status last season and already has five league goals to his name this term, as the Toon sit in a far healthier position of 6th. <br/> <br/> <b>Did you know?</b><br/> Gouffran has five goals and two assists in his last seven league games for Newcastle.

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The most underrated players in the Premier League

<b>CM - Mile Jedinak (Crystal Palace)</b><br/> In explaining Crystal Palace's promotion, most people would turn to Wilfred Zaha or Glenn Murray, but Jedinak was instrumental in the Eagles' return to the top flight. Calm on the ball, the holding midfielder who has 42 caps for Australia's national side, is an expert at breaking down opposition attacks. It's just a shame the rest of his team aren't. <br/> <br/> <b>Did you know?</b><br/> Jedinak has made 55 interceptions this season, more than any other player in the Premier League.

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The most underrated players in the Premier League

<b>CM - Claudio Yacob (West Brom) </b><br/> After six years at boyhood club Racing in Argentina, the industrious Yacob joined West Brom on a free transfer. He impressed in his first season, appearing 30 times as the Baggies achieved their highest ever Premier League finish (8th). <br/> <br/> <b>Did you know?</b><br/> Playing in central midfield, Yacob has made 61 successful tackles. In the same position, only Aaron Ramsey of Arsenal (64) has made more.

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The most underrated players in the Premier League

<b>RM - James Ward-Prowse (Southampton)</b><br/> Somewhat overshadowed by the likes of Lallana and Shaw, fellow academy graduate Ward-Prowse has impressed since his debut last season. Floating between central and wide positions, it's only a matter of time before this nifty 19-year old turns himself into an established playmaker. <br/> <br/> <b>Did you know?</b><br/> Ward-Prowse has made more accurate crosses (contact to head or foot) than any other player in the Premier League.

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The most underrated players in the Premier League

<b>FW - Olivier Giroud (Arsenal)</b><br/> It's unusual to select a player from the team that's top of the table in an 'underrated' 11, but Giroud doesn't gets anywhere near the recognition he deserves. When pundits and pub goers are debating the best strikers, wrongly the Frenchman rarely gets a look in behind Aguero, Van Persie and co. Commanding a fee of just under £10m, his move from Montpellier in 2012 can hardly be described as big money by today's standards; but when he initially joined Arsenal, he endured his fair share of 'flop' charges. Averaging almost a goal every two games and with four assists, he has since become the focal point of Arsenal's attack. <br/> <br/> <b>Did you know?</b><br/> Along with Luis Suarez of Liverpool, Giroud has more assists than any other striker in the top six. Corollary: Wayne Rooney does have more but Manchester United aren't in the top six.

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The most underrated players in the Premier League

<b>FW - Gabriel Agbonlahor (Aston Villa)</b><br/> Born in Birmingham, the player whose blistering pace is only usually referred to as a token gesture, save for two short loan spells, is a one club man. Able to play up front or out wide, Agbonlahor is a work horse who's not afraid to do the dirty work in winning the ball on the flank - he's probably so fast he could cross it in for himself. This season, Agbonlahor won both penalties in Villa's historic win at the Emirates and has notched up three assists. <br/> <br/> <b>Did you know?</b><br/> Agbonlahor is Aston Villa's all-time leading goal scorer in the Premier League.

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