2) David Silva (30, Manchester City)
Just wonderful. I confess that Silva is one of my personal favourite Premier League players, the ease of his brilliance destroying any notion that you must be a physical specimen or a speed merchant to thrive in this league. True excellence transcends the physiological and Silva has that head-on-a-swivel vision that means he can dominate a midfield against Marouane Fellaini and Paul Pogba even though they tower above him.
The creative artist behind two Premier League title wins, he is now being encouraged to sit deeper to orchestrate attacks at their source while City’s younger guns press and probe further up the pitch. It might just mean we get another three or four years of Silva at this level. Thank you, Pep.