Premier League 2019/20: 5 players who have exceeded expectations

Modified Nov 25, 2019 10:27 GMT

Jamie Vardy is scoring goals like it's 2016 again!

#4 John Lundstram

Nobody expected John Lundstram to become a Premier League star

Sheffield United have undoubtedly been the Premier League’s biggest surprise package thus far, as the newly-promoted side were widely tipped to struggle after not really making any marquee signings in the summer, and yet Chris Wilder’s side have thrived against their more illustrious opposition and currently sit 5th in the table.

Sure, the Blades could still get sucked into difficulty as the season goes on, but for now their team is flying high, and nobody seems to be flying higher at the minute than midfielder John Lundstram.

A former England youth star, nobody could’ve expected Lundstram to hit the ground running in the Premier League – particularly as he only made a paltry 10 appearances in the EFL Championship last season!

In England’s top flight though, Lundstram has seemingly had no problems adjusting whatsoever. Operating largely as a holding midfielder, the Blades man has become an expert at making late runs into the box to create opportunities – he’s scored 3 goals thus far – but he’s also thrived by making smart passes to his teammates, showing himself to be much more than a simple tough tackler.

Nobody else encapsulates Sheffield United’s style – hard work and grit but with a surprising amount of technical acumen – more than Lundstram, and given he’s only 25 years old, it wouldn’t even be a shock to see him receive international recognition soon.

Of all the players who’ve exceeded expectations this season, none have done it more than the Blades midfielder.

About the author

Scott is a veteran MMA writer with over two decades of experience, including his ongoing tenure in Sportskeeda, which began seven years ago. He has written over 3000 pieces for the organization, while also covering football. Before joining Sportskeeda, Scott wrote articles for websites like The Oratory and Inside Pulse MMA.

Scott has a degree in history, which drives his research skills and helps him compile accurate information. His long stint in the field helps Scott provide a clear take on important topics, such as the criticism of promotions regarding fighter pay. While he feels fighters deserve a bigger revenue share, he doesn’t want MMA to suffer with purse-split issues.

Scott’s work has been previously reshared by the former UFC middleweight champion Chris Weidman. He uses credible sources, such as the UFC’s official website, during the writing process.

His dedication to MMA writing won him the Feature Writer of the Month award for Sportskeeda in November 2021.

Outside of work, Scott likes to go to the gym, walk his dog, and travel.

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Edited by Arvind Sriram