Full-backs love a cross, don’t they?
In Sunday League full-back is usually the home of the no hoper. However, in the Premier League the position has been host to a number of swashbuckling defenders who charge forward at every opportunity.
Here are the top ten attacking full-backs ranked by their assists throughout the history of the league.
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10) Steve Staunton, Aston Villa/Liverpool, 28 assists
Part of the Premier League when it first started, Staunton was a regular for Villa up until moving back to where he started his career at Anfield in 1998. The Irishman clearly couldn’t make his mind up though and returned to Villa Park in 2000.
9) John Arne Riise, Liverpool/Fulham, 30 assists
The marauding Norwegian was also known for his top class free-kicks, scoring 21 goals while in the Premier League. He’s now plying his trade at APOEL.
=7) Gary Kelly, Leeds United, 31 assists
The Leeds man comes in at joint seventh. He played his whole career at the Yorkshire club, splitting his time between defence and midfield on the right hand side. Despite all the assists he only scored four goals in his 528 appearances for the club.
=7) Ashley Cole, Arsenal/Chelsea, 31 assists
The England international also has 31 assists, and is widely regarded as one of the best left-backs England has ever produced. Now at AS Roma, we are likely to have seen the last of him in the English game.
6) Dan Petrescu, Sheffield Wednesday/Chelsea/Bradford City/Southampton, 33 assists
One of the most underrated players of the Premier League era, Petrescu was a stalwart for the Blues for many years. The Romanian also had stints at several other clubs and was known for his no nonsense style. He is now a managing Al-Arabi in Qatar.
5) Gary Neville, Manchester United, 35 assists
Now better known for his punditry, Neville was once a rather good right-back. His partnership with David Beckham for Man Utd and England was devastating at times.
=3) Andy Hinchcliffe, Manchester City/Everton/Sheffield Wednesday, 36 assists
Another who’s now gone in to the media, Hinchcliffe did play seven times for England. However it is still surprising that he is so far up this list, with the left-back mostly going under the radar during his career.
=3) Ian Harte, Leeds United/Sunderland/Reading, 36 assists
The Irishman had a liking for a free-kick as well as an assist, scoring 39 goals in the top tier of English football. Now at Bournemouth, the 37-year-old is still charging down the wing, albeit probably at a slightly slower speed than in his younger days.
2) Leighton Baines, Wigan/Everton, 43 assists
Amazingly on this list despite still being only 29, the Toffees left-back has been prolific in his ability to get the ball in the box. His link up with teammate Steven Pienaar has meant that the Merseysiders have one of the most successful left sides in the Premier League at the moment. He could be top of this list by next weekend.
1) Graeme le Saux, Chelsea/Blackburn Rovers/Southampton, 44 assists
About to be overtaken by Baines is one of his predecessors at left-back for England – Le Saux. The ex-Chelsea man was once the most expensive defender in English football after a £5 million move to Stamford Bridge in 1997, and will be fondly remembered for his volley against Brazil in 1995.