PREMIER LEAGUE football returns on June 17 to the relief of everyone – except perhaps full-backs tasked with tracking the top flight’s wily wingers.
From silky dribblers to second strikers, these shores host some of the best wide-men in Europe.
Sadio Mane, Raheem Sterling and Jack Grealish rank among SunSport’s top five Premier League left-wingers
Arguably the more competitive side of attack, Prem teams house an embarrassment of talent on the left-wing with many stars raring to go at the restart.
Even strikers Anthony Martial, Marcus Rashford and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang have impressed on the left flank this season.
But none of those three are eligible here as SunSport compiles the top five left-wingers fans can expect to impress on the big return.
1. SADIO MANE
Sharing the Golden Boot last season, the Senegalese is once again among the contenders to top the scoring charts in a Player of the Year-worthy campaign.
Finishing fourth in the 2019 Ballon d’Or vote, Mane has spearheaded Liverpool’s title charge with 14 league goals and seven assists.
Crucially, the African Player of the Year has also delivered countless match-winning contributions this season including late winners against Aston Villa, Norwich and West Ham.
Mane’s 23.3 percent conversion rate also far outranked the likes of Raheem Sterling (15.5), Son Heung-min (14.1), Wilfried Zaha (6.8) and Felipe Anderson (4.6).
The 28-year-old also proved he hadn’t missed a step during the Premier League’s break after netting in Liverpool’s 11 vs 11 training session at Anfield last week.
Sadio Mane has been instrumental in Liverpool’s march to their first-ever Premier League titleCredit: PA:Press Association
2. RAHEEM STERLING
There have been some arguments that the England star has endured an underwhelming season by his own high standards.
Despite suffering a goalless run stretching back to December, Sterling has still netted 11 times in just 24 games for Manchester City.
In the absence of the injured Leroy Sane, the 25-year-old has mostly featured on the left under Pep Guardiola to accommodate Riyad Mahrez.
Sterling has still delivered eight successful crosses in the Prem as well as provided a comparatively high 36 chances – five more than Harvey Barnes. But he has just one assist this season – five fewer than the six the Leicester City starlet boasts.
Raheem Sterling remains among Pep Guardiola’s most-prized attackers at Manchester CityCredit: Getty Images – Getty
3. SON HEUNG-MIN
Famously dubbed “Sonaldo” by manager Jose Mourinho following the South Korean’s goal of the season effort against Burnley in December.
Son had been a shining light for Spurs during a season of turmoil involving Mauricio Pochettino’s exit and Harry Kane’s injury problems.
The 27-year-old was also unsettled at times himself with two reds to his name and a broken arm in the victory over Aston Villa in February.
Despite that, Son headed into the football lockdown in fine form — netting nine goals and eight assists in 17 appearances.
He has completed 49 dribbles, the same as Sadio Mane, despite playing almost 300 minutes less than the Liverpool winger.
Son Heung-min proved to be a shining light for Tottenham fans this seasonCredit: PA:Press Association
4. LEROY SANE
Sane has missed the entire campaign but as a mark of how highly the German winger is rated Bayern Munich have sustained their interest in his services all season.
His fitness is still in question but should he be fit for the restart he will be one to watch.
He’s been sidelined since August after tearing his ACL in the Community Shield against Liverpool.
Before the suspension of the Premier League he featured for City in an U23 fixture against Arsenal in February.
Last season he claimed ten goals and ten assists in 31 appearances.
Leroy Sane is set to make his long-awaited first-team comeback for Manchester CityCredit: Getty Images – Getty
5. JACK GREALISH
Many names could be considered unlucky not to make the cut, with Dwight McNeil earning rave reviews for his performances for Burnley.
Willian is set to be a coveted asset when he leaves Chelsea on a free transfer this summer, while Harvey Barnes has enjoyed a breakthrough season under Brendan Rodgers at Leicester.
Even Allan Saint-Maximin has quickly become a fan-favourite at Newcastle, with a whopping 58 per cent success rate from 80 dribbles this season.
But it is Villa captain Grealish that takes the final spot, with his seven goals and six assists the main reason his boyhood club have a chance of avoiding relegation.
The future England star has laid on 69 chances for his teammates – more than Son and Sterling combined – and has completed more dribbles while boasting a better success rate than Mane.
Such was his form, Manchester United have made Grealish a top transfer priority this summer.
Jack Grealish has been key to Aston Villa’s survival battle this seasonCredit: Reuters
Harvey Barnes has enjoyed a breakthrough campaign at LeicesterCredit: Getty Images – Getty
Allan Saint-Maximin has proved himself among the best dribblers in the Premier LeagueCredit: Alamy Live News
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
