Top five Irish players in the Premier League

Whether it’s the days of Roy and Robbie Keane or going even further back to Dennis Irwin and Ray Houghton, the Premier League has long been a place where Irish players can enjoy success. While there might not be players on the same level as those who came before, there is still a high demand for watching and nonetheless betting on the Prem in Ireland. Furthermore, there’s still a rich vein of Irish talent plying their trade in the Premier League. We’ve taken a look at the best Irish players in the league at the moment.

Seamus Coleman

Coleman might be a little bit past his peak these days, but he’s still a top performer. He’s been a solid performer for Everton over the last decade and still manages to hold down a place in the international side. Although he is on the wrong side of 30, it would definitely be a mistake to bet against him holding onto his position at Everton for a few more seasons yet. In fact, many people felt that this season would be his last, but he has proven his critics wrong yet again and put in some important performances for the Toffees. Coleman is definitely worth betting on to keep producing the goods.

As a full back, he might not get the adulation that forward players get, but Coleman is a solid performer who never lets his team down. With more than 80 caps to his name, it’s not a surprise that his abilities are appreciated in his home nation. However, on the blue side of Liverpool, Coleman is also a hero.

Matt Doherty

Doherty has had a bit of a rough time since his move to Spurs. A top-level performer at Wolves, he was regularly in the goals and looked as though he could make the step up to the next level. This was what prompted Spurs to splash out around £15m to bring him in. However, this was never really a sensible move for a number of reasons.

Firstly, Doherty has long been known as a wing back rather than a full back. Spurs were under the stewardship of Mourinho at the time, a known proponent of defensive full backs. This is something that Doherty definitely isn’t. He is best utilised providing width and as an attacking wing back. That first season was difficult for him. Then, when his former manager Nuno came in, he tried to evolve his style to four at the back and Doherty struggled to fit into this system.

However, now that Antonio Conte is in position, Doherty is enjoying a renaissance. Playing more as an attacking wing back has suited Doherty much more and his quality is starting to show. Many Spurs fans who were previously of the opinion that he should leave have started to come around to what he has to offer. Doherty is once again showing the qualities that had Wolves fans singing his name for so long and has started to get his name sung around the Spurs Stadium.

Shane Long

Long has been a quality performer in the Premier League for a long time. Having played for Reading, West Brom, Hull and Southampton in the top division, he has made his name as a fast, tricky performer. Long is able to find space for himself and make it difficult for defenders throughout his whole career. While he might be winding down now, there is still plenty left in the tank for him to be a thorn in the side of Premier League defenders.

Nathan Collins

Collins is a little bit different from the other players on this list. He’s still a relatively young player and has his whole career in front of him. However, Burnley fans feel that Collins is definitely going to be a top performer in years to come. The times he has stood in for Tarkowski this season, he has shown what he has to offer. So much so that Burnley fans don’t seem too bothered that Tarkowski is out of contract in the summer. Collins is definitely one to watch in the future.

Shane Duffy

Duffy spent a fair amount of time at Everton early in his career but didn’t get much of a look in. However, once he made the move to Brighton, he has shown that he is a solid performer. He spent a season out on loan at Celtic where he performed admirably, but he has since returned and once again made the position in the heart of the Brighton defence his own. Duffy is definitely a quality performer who can still keep going.