The man that will effortlessly take the reins from Ashley Cole in the England line-up is an illustration that whilst England may not be as great as their ludicrously high world ranking suggests, we may be the best in the world for consistently producing classy left-backs. In that we are the envy of the world, and Leighton Baines is our new leading light in our most celebrated of positions. Baines manages to simultaneously be a force both the attacking and defensive thirds of the pitch, and a set-piece specialist to boot means that the ball is both a threat dead and alive when playing Everton. While he looks like he would be snapped up by the casting directors of Shameless, his sheer athleticism allows Everton to crowd the opposition box with its tallest players, safe that his defensive efforts will be sure to prevent crosses coming into their own area. The full-back position has often been overlooked as perhaps the least vital component of a formation, but without Baines it is a certainty that Everton would be sitting comfortably in mid-table awaiting another season of mediocrity, rather than daring to dream about the possibility of sitting at Europe's top table instead. With seven assists and five goals to his credit this season, which is remarkable for a defender, he has been vitally important in Everton's strong season, and it may be an ask to keep him in Mersey blue after the summer. The odds for a defender winning this award have often been low, with the last winner from the back four being John Terry in 2005. Baines' chances may be slim, but his dedication and consistency should hopefully garner at least a nomination. Chances of winning: Living in hope rather than expectation