Cesc Fabregas snubbed by Gary Neville - to Jamie Carragher's dismay - in Premier League team of the season so far

Fabregas has 13 assists and two goals for league leaders

Cesc Fabregas receives his yellow card from Anthony Taylor (GETTY IMAGES)

Cesc Fabregas has been a revelation for Chelsea this season, transforming the way the Blues play with his brilliant passing and vision.

The Spaniard, bought from Barcelona in the summer, has been a crucial part of the football that has taken Chelsea to the top of the Premier League, three points clear of Manchester City with only one defeat in 19 matches.

Fabregas has scored twice and provided a mammoth 13 assists - five more than second-placed Gylfi Sigurdsson.

In fact, Fabregas has been so integral to the Blues success that he has led the Premier League in three vital, if under-appreciated, statistics. He has averaged 107.1 touches per game in his short Chelsea career, 20 more than his nearest rival, and 86.3 passes per game, 12 more than Mikel Arteta. Fabregas has also created, on average, 3.39 chances per game, more than any other player in 2014.

But, unfortunately for the Spaniard, this was not enough to get him into Gary Neville and Jamie Carragher's team of the season so far on Sky Sports show Monday Night Football - the pair couldn't agree on one of the central midfield places so the deciding vote was made by Twitter users.

While Branislav Ivanovic, John Terry, Cesar Azpilicueta, Nemanja Matic, Eden Hazard and Diego Costa were all picked, Fabregas was left out.

The man in his place? Morgan Schneiderlin, who has had a great season of his own for surprise package Southampton.

Neville picked the Frenchman - heavily linked with a move away from St Mary's in January - saying: "I went for Schneiderlin, I'm not quite sure why looking at those stats. What Fabregas has given us so far is what we would have expected.

"In terms of impact on a team I think Schneiderlin is the man at Southampton. They're going to get absolutely bombarded in January; Liverpool will look at him, Arsenal, United, Tottenham. Four clubs that all might fancy him.

"I think he is one of the best performing midfield players in the League of his type - not because I don't fancy Cesc Fabregas, he's a good player."

Carragher, who picked Fabregas, said about England coach Neville: "Typical FA man, going for 4-4-2 going for two workhorses in midfield. I like someone who can get on the ball and play." He later added: "I hope Fabregas is not watching this show because he will never watch it again."

Schneiderlin eventually won the vote with 62 per cent - perhaps Arsenal fans had a say in that...