Every new season gives players a fresh chance to impress managers and supporters alike and during the first seven matches of the 2016/17 Premier League campaign a number of surprising names have caught the eye.
After looking at Etienne Capoue, Sam Clucas and Raheem Sterling, Adrian Clarke assesses a Tottenham Hotspur winger who has hit the ground running in his second season in England.
Son Heung-min (Tottenham Hotspur)
From the periphery to centre-stage in a matter of weeks, Son Heung-min is in a rich vein of form that he never came close to matching in his first season at White Hart Lane.
Operating on the left wing or as a roving centre-forward the South Korea international seems unstoppable, terrorising opposition defenders with his speed, directness and ability to shoot with both feet.
In each of his last four Premier League outings, the 24-year-old has been a contender for man of the match - a series of performances that have earned him a nomination for the EA SPORTS Player of the Month award.
Confidence has to be the catalyst behind his surge.
Son looked inhibited at times during his debut PL campaign, struggling to express himself with the same drive he exuded in the Bundesliga with Bayer Leverkusen.
However, since scoring a delightful 41st-minute goal at Stoke City on his season bow on 10 September, he has looked a player transformed.
In less than a third of the time he spent on the pitch last term Son has already made the same number of successful dribbles (17) in four matches, so it is clear his mindset is more positive.
As shown in the table below, the Spurs wide man has made dramatic strides across the board, stepping up to become one of Mauricio Pochettino's on-field leaders.
Son improvements
| 2015/16 | 2016/17 | |
| Mins played | 1105 | 359 |
| Touches/90 | 58.24 | 67.69 |
| Completed dribbles/90 | 1.38 | 4.26 |
| Shots/90 | 3.10 | 4.51 |
| Shots on target | 1.06 | 1.75 |
| Chances created/90 | 1.47 | 3.01 |
| Sprints/90 | 71.84 | 64.18 |
The South Korean no longer seems to be trying too hard to impress. Relaxing into his role and the demands it brings, he is actually sprinting less than he did in 2015/16. The difference now, though, is that he is picking the right moments to do it.
Son's pace is a huge asset. Usually the second or third quickest player in the Spurs team on sprints (Kyle Walker tops the rankings most weeks), he brings a zest to the left side, and because he is capable of darting past full-backs on both the inside and the outside, he has proven to be devilishly unpredictable to defend against.
Spurs fans should also be excited by the natural chemistry he shares with Dele Alli.
At home to Manchester City last weekend he laid on a wonderful assist for the England international and in each of the last three PL matches, Son has passed to Alli more than any other team-mate. There is an almost telepathic link between the two that is only likely to improve further.
During a spell when the north Londoners needed someone to raise their game in Harry Kane's absence, Son has stepped up to the plate, with four goals and two assists.
If he maintains this high level, Son will be one of Pochettino's main men this term.
