5 most underrated stars of the Premier League this season

#5 Jeff Hendrick (Burnley)

Jeff Hendrick (R)

Burnley have never finished higher than 16th (last season) in the Premier League era. They have been relegated twice and finishing in the top half of the table was just a pipe dream at the start of the season.

Andyet, Sean Dyche has built a cohesive unit that now sits three points away from a top four spot at the halfway stage of the season. It has been a remarkable rise for The Clarets and Dyche has played to their srengths.

Largely playing a 4-4-1-1 or a 4-5-1 formation, the man who makes them tick is Jeff Hendrick. The Irish international is capable of playing as a support striker or a central attacking midfielder in a system that focuses on defensive organisation and solidity off the ball.

It only further illustrates his ability to play as a clever box-to-box player despite his "advanced" position. Having made 16 appearances so far, he has a goal and an assist. Whether it is Chris Wood or Sam Vokes up front, it is Hendrick who plays behind them.

2 - Jeff Hendrick has scored two goals in his last four Premier League games, as many as he managed in his previous 35 games. Opener.

— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) October 30, 2017

With a pass success rate of 80%, he is only bested by Steven Defour and Jack Cork who sit behind him (or either side of him depending on the formation) but their passes are of the safer kind compared to Hendrick's which involve higher risk.