Under the radar: The Premier League's 5 most underrated players

Last night, I sat there watching Manchester United vs. Brentford - a game that Keith Andrews' team will feel they could and should have got at least a point from.

As Sky Sports' Gary Neville discussed at length the different tactical shifts and tweaks deployed by both managers throughout the game, one rather simple revelation came to my mind.

Mathias Jensen is really good at football.

And, point B, I'm not sure how many people are aware.

It wasn't just his 25-yard piledriver to reduce the arrears late on that sparked this - it did help, though.

The Dane played the entire 90 minutes with a calmness, an ease and an authority that I have become accustomed to when watching him in the red and white of Brentford. Underrated.

This label - 'underrated' - is one now commonplace in contemporary football rhetoric - (thanks a lot, social media), but I think it's banded around too carelessly.

Here, I present five Premier League footballers who truly deserve this tag - leaving Jensen out as he's already had enough praise.

Since Forest gained promotion back to the Premier League in 2022, I have unfortunately seen our midfield suffer from Lukic domination on more than one occasion.

The Serbian goes about his business quietly, breaking up play and frustrating his opponents by hassling them from the first to last whistle. 

Lukic, formerly of Torino, has made 23 league appearances this season and is a popular choice for Marco Silva when fit. 

He and Sander Berge form an imposing midfield pivot and will be vital if Fulham are to sustain a push for European football.

At just 21 years of age, Worthing-born Jack Hinshelwood already has over 60 Premier League appearances to his name.

To be a regular pick for Fabian Hurzeler in his high-octane system is no easy feat. 

Hinshelwood is versatile and has played in both attacking and defensive midfield roles, as well as at right-back. 

This season, the England u21 international has typically played further forward, often in supporting roles for Danny Welbeck or Georginio Rutter.

Should Hinshelwood be able to add goals to his game on a consistent basis, there is no reason why he cannot find his way into the thoughts of Thomas Tuchel.

This one might cause some confusion - most people of sound mind rate Dewsbury-Hall, no?

Yes, they do. But for me - not highly enough.

I love the way he plays the game, with both a burning desire to win and a slight arrogance in his own abilities. Dewsbury-Hall combines industry with a delightful left-foot, slick passing and important goals.

While I am not someone who obsesses over numbers when making judgements about a player's ability, his record of eight goals and four assists this campaign is not to be sniffed at.

He can count himself unlucky to likely be missing from England's World Cup squad. Unfortunately for the former Leicester and Chelsea man, Tuchel has the strongest amount depth in his favoured position.

Ask any Nottingham Forest fan who their player of the season is for the 2025/26 campaign. I can bet you good money it will be Neco Williams.

He is one of the most ridiculously-consistent footballers I have seen at the City Ground, rarely dropping below a seven out of ten. 

He is combative, strong and never shirks a tackle, dominant in the air, assured with the ball at his feet - and not too bad in goal either.

Williams is always available for Forest, comfortable playing on either the right or left side of defence. Should Vitor Pereira's side avoid the drop, his form will have been a big factor. 

I would not be surprised to see so-called 'big clubs' baying for his signature this summer.

The fifth and final nomination falls into the same category as Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall. I'm going to title this, 'Everyone knows they're good, but not how good they actually are'. Catchy.

John McGinn is a phenomenal footballer and one who I imagine will withstand the various big-money midfield signings Aston Villa make in the future, to retain his place in the team.

McGinn is deceptively quick, obviously strong and an absolute nuisance to face. His first touch is rarely anything short than impeccable. 

If your team is losing to Aston Villa with around ten minutes to play, I suggest you stop watching or leave the stadium. McGinn's ability to win fouls and slow the game down is something that, if you are an Aston Villa fan, is probably quite enjoyable. If not, pretty frustrating.

A fantastic professional, nonetheless, and a very funny bloke by all accounts.