Top 5: Premier League stars still to shine in 2016/17

After eight Premier League games this season, it is Arsenal and Manchester City who are leading the way, both taking 19 points from a possible 24.

Tottenham, Liverpool, Chelsea, Everton and Manchester United are all not too far behind and have already produced some impressive displays.

There are a whole host of clubs however that need to start raising their game and they will be relying on their superstars to start turning the club’s fortunes around.

England international, Vardy, has netted two league goals for Leicester so far this campaign – Photo: Marc Atkins / Offside.

There are also some individuals who are getting left behind by their team and they will certainly need to up their standards if they are to continue getting game time.

The likes of Dimitri Payet, Eden Hazard, Georginio Wijnaldum, Jamie Vardy, Olivier Giroud and Riyad Mahrez have all had relatively quiet starts to the season, compared to the heights that they have reached over the last two campaigns, and they will be looking to add their stamp on matches in the run up to Christmas.

Are there some players who have just seen the start of the 2016/17 season pass them by? Which summer signings have we forgotten about already? Who really needs to start having more of an impact?

Here are five players that Shoot! think will still have time to shine this season…

Odion Ighalo

Photo: Marc Atkins / Offside.

Odion Ighalo has struggled so far in the Premier League this season and has managed just one goal for Walter Mazzarri’s Watford in the Premier League.

The Nigerian scored 18 times in all competitions during 2015/16 as he and striking partner Troy Deeney netted over 30 goals between them.

The 27-year-old striker was dropped last weekend for fellow forward Isaac Success in their 1-0 win at Middlesbrough, but his manager has backed him to find his form soon.

Surely it can only be a matter of time before Ighalo is back to being a regular name on The Hornets scoresheet.

Thibaut Courtois

Photo: Mark Leech / Offside.

Thibaut Courtois has always been tipped to go on to become one of best goalkeepers in the world, but his start to this campaign has definitely been one to forget.

The Chelsea shot-stopper has faced 19 shots on target during the opening eight Premier League games and nine – a staggering 47 per cent – of these efforts have found the back of his net.

However, at the age of just 24, Courtois definitely has plenty of time to turn things around and the Belgian ‘keeper did keep two clean sheets in his most recent games against Hull City and Leicester City.

The Chelsea supporters will be hoping that this is enough to kick-start his season.

Vincent Janssen

Photo: Marc Atkins / Offside.

Tottenham’s summer signing Vincent Janssen was a great deal for the club after seriously impressing at former club AZ Alkmaar.

The striker scored 30 goals in all competitions over the course of last season and is the number one striker for the Dutch national team.

However, Janssen is yet to make a real impact upon the Premier League and recently lost his place to the in-form Heung-min Son.

The 22 year-old has only two goals in 12 games for Spurs and they will be hoping that he can find his best form in North London as soon as possible.

Henrikh Mkhitaryan

Photo: Simon Stacpoole / Offside.

Henrikh Mkhitaryan completed his move to Jose Mourinho’s Manchester United for £26m over the summer after dominating the Bundesliga last season.

The midfielder signed for the club with the expectation being that he will become a source of goals for United.

However, things have not quite gone to plan for the 27-year-old, managing just 104 minutes of play under his belt in a Red Devils shirt since arriving from Borussia Dortmund and he has not played any competitive football in the last month after picking up an injury in the derby defeat to Manchester City.

He will be hoping that on his return from injury that he can improve on his slow start to life at Old Trafford.

Wayne Rooney

Photo: Simon Stacpoole / Offside.

Wayne Rooney is unquestionably facing a great period of uncertainty at the moment, both with his Manchester United career and with his place in the national side.

Dropped by both Jose Mourinho and Gareth Southgate, the whole nation has continued to question his capabilities.

There are certain things that cannot be forgotten though. Rooney has played in over 400 games at club level, has over a century of caps at international level and currently holds the England goalscoring record – with 53 goals for the senior team.

The question is though, will the 31 year-old rediscover his previous quality before it is too late?

His footballing future rests solely in his own hands.