Feature

Chase is on for Premier League Playmaker award

16 Nov 2019

De Bruyne is five clear but fixtures are about to favour those behind in race for most assists

Premier League Playmaker of the Season award

With just under a third of the season gone, we look at the early leading contenders for the 2019/20 Premier League awards, in association with Cadbury.

Playmaker award

Kevin De Bruyne is the early pacesetter, but the race to be king of Premier League assists is far from over.

The Belgian is aiming to win the Playmaker of the Season award for the second time in three seasons.

He triumphed in the award's inaugural 2017/18 campaign with 16 assists, pipping team-mate Leroy Sane by setting up Gabriel Jesus's stoppage-time winner at Southampton for Manchester City on the final day.

De Bruyne is five ahead this season, having created nine goals, two more than he had at this stage the last time he won.

Hope for chasers

However, his recent form and the strength of his forthcoming opponents offer hope to those in pursuit.

After eight assists in the first seven Matchweeks, De Bruyne has since managed only one in five appearances.

And in their next five matches City play Chelsea, Manchester United and Arsenal, as well as travelling to Newcastle United and Burnley.

Closest challengers

Harvey Barnes, Emiliano Buendia, Dwight McNeil, Andrew Robertson and David Silva are the closest challengers with four assists each.

Two of these players have the form and fixtures to suggest they can cut the gap.

Barnes has three assists in his last four matches ahead of Leicester City facing Brighton & Hove Albion, Everton, Watford, Aston Villa and Norwich City.

Robertson has set up two goals in his last four appearances as Liverpool prepare to face Crystal Palace, Brighton, Everton, AFC Bournemouth and Watford.