Nikola Milenkovic (Nottingham Forest)
Nottingham Forest had a huge problem with defending set pieces last season and Nuno Espírito Santo demanded a centre-back who could dominate in the air. The club were efficient in their business, signing the brick-headed Serb from Fiorentina for £10m. It was a bargain and the centre-back fitted in immediately alongside the Brazilian Murillo as the club created one of the best defences in the league. The pair complement one another perfectly and, along with Matz Sels, created the foundation for Forest’s tilt at qualifying for the Champions League by dominating some of the best strikers in the world. After missing the opening match of the season against Bournemouth through suspension, Milenkovic, 27, has played every single minute in the Premier League. It is rare that an outfield player is an ever-present but the centre-back has been integral and his consistency cannot be underestimated, helping Murillo thrive. It is often the Brazilian who gets the most credit as he is the more flamboyant of the two but Milenkovic deserves just as much praise for what Forest have achieved this season.
