Troy Deeney (Watford)
This time last year Deeney was beginning the season serving a 10-month prison sentence after being convicted of affray following a fight outside a nightclub in Birmingham. The former Walsall striker returned after serving a third of his sentence in September to form a formidable strike partnership with on-loan forward Matej Vydra at Vicarage Road which took Gianfranco Zola’s side to the very brink of the Premier League. Deeney ended the campaign with 20 goals in his 43 appearances but it wasn’t enough as the Hornets lost out in the play-off final to Crystal Palace. However Deeney has recovered from this disappointment to start the new season in blistering form and has already hit five goals in his three appearances which including a brilliant hat-trick in a 6-1 win against Bournemouth.
The powerful striker only penned an improved three-and-a-half new deal at Vicarage Road in March but the interest from the Premier League is swelling with just weeks remaining of the present transfer window. The 6ft striker is now regarded as one of the best players outside of the Premier League and Watford could face a fight to keep hold of him with Tottenham one of the many sides showing interest in his services to demonstrate just how far his stock has risen within 12 months.