No showboating highlight reel is complete without a barrel-chested Lee Trundle pulling off one of his tricks, but the former forward admits his greatest regret is never strutting his stuff in the Premier League with Swansea.

Trundle turned professional at the age of 26 and swiftly became a cult hero with the Swans after capturing the imagination with his fancy flicks.

But his style of play was certainly no gimmick as the Liverpool-born striker scored more than 20 goals in each of his four seasons with Swansea – helping them into League One in the process.

Then, in 2007, Bristol City snapped him up in a £1m deal and while it did not work out for him in the West Country, the club he left behind were promoted to the Premier League two years later.

And Trundle, who turned 40 on Monday, remains adamant he could have followed in the footsteps of some of Swansea’s greatest servants by playing for them at the very top.

“You look at Leon Britton, Alan Tate  and Garry Monk, who played for the club in all four divisions,” said Trundle, who returned on loan to Swansea but the club decided not to offer him a contract.

“I wonder what it would have been like if I had progressed through the divisions with the club as they did.

 (Photo by Paul Gilham/Getty Images)

“I would have loved to play for Swansea in the Premier League. If I could change one thing in my career, that would be it.

“Some people said I couldn’t score goals at that level, but I believe it was the way Bristol played which was the problem for me.

“Swansea suited me. I look at Fernando Torres, who scored loads of goals at Liverpool but went to Chelsea – who were in the same league – and couldn’t get a goal.

“If Swansea had got promoted to the Championship while I was at the club, I would have stayed, no doubt about it.”

Like many academy managers and development coaches across the Premier League, Kevin Ball is one of the unsung heroes at Sunderland.

Not only did he make 340 appearances for the Black Cats in his playing days, but having retired has brought several players through the ranks who are now starring in English football.

Ball marshalled England’s newest skipper Jordan Henderson through the Academy of Light, and also saw his latest prodigy called up to Gareth Southgate’s squad in Jordan Pickford – who has impressed in the absence of Vito Mannone for David Moyes’ side.

And Ball believes the pair’s success is a reflection on the efforts of the club and is hoping Sunderland’s latest youngsters can aspire to replicate them.

“Everyone associated with Sunderland AFC should be so proud because they are two local lads representing their country with pride,” he said.

“It’s an eye opener to players that this is what you can chose to do if you want and they have both done it with hard work.

“They both have great ability but what overrides that is their desire to be the best they can possibly be.

“Hard works helps you achieve your potential, you can have all the potential but without hard work it’s worthless.”

Gareth Barry could have gone to Arsenal or Chelsea as a youngster, according to the all-time record holder for the most number of Premier League starts.

The former Aston Villa man recently played, and scored in, his 600th Premier League fixture, and even makes an appearance in the 2017 Guinness Book of World Records for the highest ever number of Premier League starts – currently standing at 580.

Now, at 35, with Premier League and FA Cup winner’s medals around his neck and 53 England appearances to his name, the midfield dynamo can justifiably be happy with his lot.

But it could all have been so different if he had gone to London as a youngster, with the Everton man admitting there was interest from the capital early in his career.

“I could have gone to Arsenal, Chelsea, Palace, a few London teams, but the bright lights of London were too scary – or that’s what my mum said,” he joked.

Photo by Lynne Cameron/Getty Images

And when questioned how he made himself a fixture in so many managers’ sides from such a young age, Barry had some wise words for young players today.

“It must just be in my makeup, trying to go out there and do my job, rather than trying to impress people,” he added.

“Just doing what is being asked of you, that is what young players sometimes do not pick up on, they can be a bit on edge and trying to impress people a bit too much, rather than doing what is asked of them.

“You have got to get the right mix, because you have to do what comes naturally, but at the same time you’re doing a job for your team and manager as well.”

Sergio Aguero’s Premier League scoring record is nothing short of extraordinary, but the Argentinean striker insists writing his own name into the history books is not high on his agenda.

Just two more league goals will see him go level with Ryan Giggs on 109, and take him into the top 20 of all-time Premier League hitmen – with Newcastle United legend Alan Shearer heading that list.

Although he still has a long way to go to catch up with Shearer’s 260 strikes, having comfortably surpassed 20 league goals in each of the past two seasons Aguero is poised to make significant inroads into the top 20.

But while the 28-year-old admits his admiration for the league’s greatest ever goalscorers – including former teammate Frank Lampard in particular – he is more interested in spurring Pep Guardiola’s charges on to even greater team success.

“Records have never meant much to me if I’m honest. It’s nice to break them, I admit, but they aren’t a big priority to me,” he said.

“Having said that, it still makes me proud to stand where I am in the club’s all-time list. If I can keep racking up goals, I hope they come for the benefit of the team and football club, and not just to create personal records.

“There are some great names in the Premier League top 20, but without a doubt, for his goal tally and lead over everybody else, Alan Shearer deserves to be on the podium.

“That said, there are a number of other players I admire. I’d say it’s a matter of taste or playing style because the Premier League has hosted many of the greats – and still does: Michael Owen, Wayne Rooney and Thierry Henry to name just a few.

“But as my personal favourite, I’d like to choose Frank Lampard, who in spite of not being necessarily a striker, stands among the top ten goal-scorers. That deserves praise.

“I had the chance to play alongside him and it was a valuable experience. He’s every inch a professional and a man you can respect.”

Oriol Romeu insists it is attention to detail that has made all the difference in Southampton’s about turn in form.

The 25-year-old Saints midfielder has been a key part of the revival that has seen Claude Puel’s side win four games on the spin in the month of September.

They started the season shakily in terms of results, failing to win once in their first four Premier League games.

But Romeu – a Barcelona youth product – insists it is points rather than performances that have changed massively since the outset of the campaign.

“I think we changed the results,” he said.

“The type of play was quite similar at the beginning, but we needed to improve a few details in our game.

“We got the clean sheets, which is very hard to get, and the team is looking much sharper and much more difficult to beat, and I think that is very good news.”

(Photo by Paul Gilham/Getty Images)

Romeu was also as Southampton’s Under Armour Player of the Month for September, the former Chelsea midfielder earning 47 per cent of the vote from supporters, triumphing ahead of fellow nominees Charlie Austin, Fraser Forster and Virgil van Dijk.

“I’m very happy,” he added. “I think it’s something nice and I’m very happy to get it.

“It tells us that the fans are happy with us, with the players and I think the last results have been very good and everyone now is enjoying it much more.

“We just want to keep them happy and win more games.”

From playing in the Championship to finding yourself on the same training field as the England senior captain – Middlesbrough’s Dael Fry has enjoyed a whirlwind week.

The 19-year-old is currently on loan with Rotherham United, in the Championship, but got called up to the England Under-20 team for the Four Nations tournament against the Netherlands, Germany and the USA.

While training at St George’s Park, interim England boss and former Boro stalwart Gareth Southgate was in need of some extra bodies to boost his first team training session, so Fry got the nod.

“It came as a total surprise and was amazing for me,” said Fry.

“It was great to be training alongside fantastic players like Wayne Rooney, and with Gareth as the manager too – he was one of my heroes growing up as a Boro fan.

“Obviously, my goal is to try and make it more of a regular thing in the years to come, but I know I’ve got a lot of hard work ahead of me before I can even think about that.

“It’s something I’ll never forget.”

Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images

The central defender recently signed a five-year contract extension with Boro and sees England youth appearances as key to his development.

England won all three of their fixtures in the tournament, giving Fry valuable international experience as he looks to impress his coaches at Rotherham and Boro.

“These tournaments are so important – and we could come up against teams like these in the World Cup,” he added.

“It’s always good to come away with England and even better to get a trophy.

“We are really pleased to have not just won it, but to do it with three victories and only conceding one goal makes it a bit more special.”

On-loan goalkeeper Lee Grant may have possession of the gloves at the Bet365 Stadium, but the 33-year-old is still in awe of Stoke City colleague Shay Given.

Grant was brought in as cover during Jack Butland’s absence through injury, and is currently Mark Hughes’ choice between the sticks as the Potters look to get out of a sticky situation.

Hughes’ side are currently 19th in the Premier League table and without a top-flight win all season, racking up just three points from their seven fixtures, so far.

Grant has played in their last two fixtures, draws against West Bromwich Albion and Manchester United – where he almost single-handedly earned his side a point – and looks set to be selected for Saturday’s game at home to bottom-of-the-table Sunderland.

But the former Burnley shot-stopper knows that even in Butland’s absence, Given is pushing him all the way.

Photo by Lynne Cameron/Getty Images

“Shay is someone who I have so much respect for because of the career he has had and is still having,” said the Derby County man.

“He’s somebody that I actually look up to now and think that if I can maintain my physical shape the way he does then I might have a chance of playing at 40 also.

“I think competition is a positive for any goalkeeper because you will always perform to your best and you are always pushing and challenging yourself.

“Fortunately, it’s me that’s playing at the moment but that’s not to say I’m expecting to play this weekend.

“It’s a job we all work hard at Monday to Friday in order to be in contention for the number one shirt.”

Sofiane Feghouli left La Liga behind for West Ham in the Premier League and the Algerian international has claimed every player must prove themselves in England’s top flight.

The 26-year-old has played for Grenoble, Valencia and Almeria on loan and is now challenging himself in East London.

He is adamant the decision to move was an easy one and according to Feghouli, a player cannot be considered successful without some experience of the Premier League.

“I wanted to give the Premier League a go because it’s one of the best leagues in the world and attracts so much attention from around the world,” Feghouli explained.

“In my opinion, every player needs to play in the Premier League at least once in their career for it to be a truly successful one.

“It wasn’t too difficult to come to my decision. I was coming to the end of my contract at Valencia and for various reasons, we were unable to renegotiate and so, I needed to find a new club and consider the offers that were being made.

“I knew about West Ham and I had heard a lot about the passion of the fans. After speaking to the manager and listening to his project, it was an easy decision for me to join the Club.”

It has been a week of firsts for Arsenal midfielder Alex Iwobi – he has made his full competitive debut for Nigeria this week and also scored for the Super Eagles in the win over Zambia.

His performances for Nigeria are a continuation of the meteoric rise Iwobi has experienced at the Emirates over the last six months, with the midfielder reportedly on the verge of a bumper new contract.

Iwobi broke into the Arsenal first team at the back end of last season, making 21 appearances during the season as the Gunners finished second to Leicester City in the Premier League.

And the winger has earned another run in the Gunners’ first team this campaign after catching the eye for Arsenal in the 1-1 Champions League draw against Paris St Germain.

His impressive form has even won praise from Arsenal’s star playmaker Mesut Ozil, who has compared the midfielder to Iwobi’s uncle, Jay-Jay Okocha, and also legendary Dutch midfielder Edgar Davids.

The Germany international has formed a superb understanding with the Nigerian this season, and sees similarities with the two former greats.

“He reminds me of his uncle,” said Ozil. “He was a player I loved watching. Alex reminds me of a mixture of him and. He’s really strong on the ball, also defensively, but he’s good in front of goal too.

“He knows exactly what he can do. He isn’t scared and doesn’t hide on the pitch. He just wants to have fun playing football and that really shows on the pitch, and also in training.

“He’s developing really well and if he continues the way he’s been playing the whole season, he will really enhance his game. The manager knows exactly how good he is and I wish him all the best. He is really young and is on a really good path.”

Sergio Aguero gives off the impression he would be the same free-scoring superstar under any manager, but the Manchester City hitman insists he is flourishing under Pep Guardiola.

The 28-year-old has scored eleven goals in eight outings under Pep at City, including two hat-tricks, not displaying any rustiness despite missing three games through a disciplinary ban.

While he is currently on international duty with Argentina, Aguero believes the Catalan’s attention to detail is what is spurring him on to new heights in the City jersey.

And having now gotten used to Guardiola’s high-intensity style of pressing, Aguero admits it has been hard to go back to old habits for his country.

“He [Guardiola] wants me right as a nine, but then he gives me more freedom too,” he said. “He asks me to move all around the attack.

“On the other hand, Tata [Martino, ex-Argentina boss] wanted me between the two defenders, to create more space for Leo [Messi], Fideo (Di Maria) or Pastore or Banega.

“Pep is different. Pep is very picky about everything. It’s good. The good thing is that I’m getting used to him and automatically going straight in to pressing the centre-backs.

“On the other hand, here at the national team I did it against Peru, and I realised I left the midfield unprotected.

“I’m used to do it but in this case it’s Pipa [Gonzalo Higuain] who should do it. Sometimes on the pitch I run, press and forget it.”