Manchester United player makes Jamie Carragher’s top five Premier League performers this season

We're 12 games deep into one of the stranger Premier League seasons in recent memory.

Nobody could have expected Chelsea's relentless pursuit of parachute payments nor the high-flying antics of a Vardy-led Leicester. And with a fortnight's break in between fixtures, we have time to catch our breath and reflect on a stellar start to the campaign. Jamie Carragher has been doing just that and has named the top five players who have impressed the very-difficult-to-impress pundit. Speaking to the Daily Mail, Carragher has revealed the best performers so far in the 2015/16 Premier League season.

JAMIE VARDY (Leicester)

He’s made astonishing progress. Scoring in nine straight games is not due to good fortune.

DIMITRI PAYET (West Ham)

Signing of the season. Clubs will be kicking themselves that they let West Ham take him.

CHRIS SMALLING (Manchester United)

I once doubted whether he could be United’s main defender but he has proven me wrong.

DAVID SILVA (Manchester City)

I can’t forget how good he was in the opening weeks. When he’s back from injury City will fly.

MESUT OZIL (Arsenal)

Chasing an assist record but he frustrates me as he can do so much more to influence a game.