NEWS NEWS BLOG SPORT takes a look at the unlikely stand-out performers of the 2015/16 season so far.
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| Jamie Vardy and Riyad Mahrez have both been standout players for Leicester this season |
Jamie Vardy & Riyad Mahrez
Undoubtedly the biggest surprise package this term has been leicester - currently riding high at the top of the Premier League.
The Foxes were picked to go down at the start of the season after narrowly avoiding the drop with a late resurgence last term.
And the loss of Nigel Pearson in June and subsequent appointment of Claudio Ranieri had pundits fearing the worst.
However, nobody could have predicted the way Jamie Vardy and Riyad Mahrez would start the season, scoring 18 league goals between them.
Vardy has also earned his England debut, being called up in May for the friendly with the Republic of Ireland and later the Euro qualifiers with San Marino and Switzerland.
And if that wasn't enough the striker also broke Ruud van Nistelrooy's long-standing consecutive goal-scoring record, netting in 12 games in a row.
But not to be outdone Mahrez has also been making waves this season, bagging 13 goals and making 7 assists in 16 league games.
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| Odion Ighalo is Watford's top scorer this season so far |
Odion Ighalo
Watford have also been over-performing this season and are currently sitting pretty in 7th place - just one point off the top four.
And the Hornets owe a lot of their success to the 28-year-old who has stepped up to the challenge of the Premier League.
Most of the focus pre-season was on their Championship top-scorer Troy Deeney but Ighalo has since stolen the limelight bagging 12 league goals already.
And his fine performances have not gone unnoticed, leading to Quique Sanchez Flores issuing a 'hands off' plea to any potential suitors in the January window.
Dele Alli
Another player to come up from the lower leagues and more than hold their own has been Tottenham's Dele Alli.
The 19-year-old was playing League One football with MK Dons last season, and despite his tender years has looked more than comfortable in the Spurs starting XI.
The midfielder has played in all but two of their Premier League games this term so far, scoring four times in the process.
And he has been duly rewarded, with Roy Hodgson calling him up to the England squad in October for the Euro qualifiers with Estonia and Lithuania.
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| Nacho Monreal has been a stand-out performer for Arsenal so far this term |
Nacho Monreal
It's not just attackers that have stood out this season, with Nacho Monreal making a claim for the most improved player in the division.
The Arsenal full-back has featured in every single league game for Arsene Wenger, keeping Kieran Gibbs firmly out of the side.
And the Gunners have conceded just 14 goals with him in the team, the joint-lowest amount of any club in the Premier League.
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