EPL: Top 20 Number 2’s Countdown

7 – Kyle Walker -Tottenham Hotspur

At one point Kyle Walker may have been overrated, but now I think people have stopped expecting wonders from him every game and started to accept he is just a solid attacking right back. Injuries have hurt his development, but their is no doubt that he is a threat going forward. Combine him with Townsend or Lennon in front of him and you have a right side that most teams will not relish. He still has a future with England too if he can just find that ever elusive consistency.

6 – Glen Johnson – Liverpool

Glen Johnson may be eternally mocked for his lack of understanding of defending, but in reality he has been a respectable EPL right back for a number of years. When he ventures forward, the cleanliness of his strikes of both right and left foot are alarming. He has a knack of hitting a peach that flies just narrowly over the opponents crossbar. Defensively he is lacking, but still puts a shift in against most sides. The way he swaps to left back is similar to Chelsea’s Cesar Azpilicueta, they both make it look easy when it most definitely isn’t.

5 – Mathieu Debuchy – Arsenal

Debuchy was a star for Newcastle down the right and looked at home for Arsenal before his injury at the start of the EPL season. When he returns there is little doubt that he will be a regular starter for them and that will be a huge boost for Arsenal who are having to rely heavily on the young Callum Chambers. Debuchy fits what seems to be an EPL mould of tough and no nonsense right backs whose dogged determination makes them a threat. 2015 is a big year for the Frenchman, who at 29 will look to have a few more years at the top.

4 – Rafael – Manchester United

Rafael has made 102 EPL appearances for Man United and is only 24. Clearly trusted by Sir Alex Ferguson, he has proven to be one of the more consistent performers in a side that have struggled for the last year or so. He is fiery and has a penchant for the bizarre at tines, but overall the Brazilian right back is as talented as they come for right backs in the EPL. Cementing his place in the team under Louis van Gaal will be his immediate concern, as United could spend big in January on defensive reinforcements. 4th might seem harsh, but if you are not a guaranteed starter it’s hard to be in the top 3.