Hard-tackling and aggressive, it would be fair to say that 24-year-old Malian midfielder Yves Bissouma has earned his recognition. By playing for an unfashionable national side in terms of prestige and playing the ‘ball winner’ role for a ball-playing Brighton and Hove Albion side, Bissouma often flies under the radar for fans from other clubs.

For bird-eyed Seagulls fans, though, it would be hard to deny that Bissouma is one of the most important cogs in a Brighton midfield that can often look wonderful or wretched.

What makes Yves Bissouma worth watching?

Despite standing at only 1.82m, Bissouam makes a habit of getting involved in the physical side of the game. Winning aerial battles is a big part of his game, as is going to ground to win the ball back. A strong tackler and smart stealer of the ball in interceptions, Bissouma regularly screens the defence or sits just slightly ahead. His strong contributions in the middle help to give the more attacking Brighton players plenty of chance to move forward.

With only 6 yellow cards this year, too, Bissouma can say with pretty significant confidence that he can mix it without losing his composure.

Things to improve for Yves Bissouma

Though Bissouma can sometimes have one too many cracks from distance, his main problem stems from committing dangerous fouls. If he can start to give fouls away even five or ten yards further up the pitch, it would help his team to avoid the concession of set piece goals that could otherwise have been avoided.

His long range shooting is consistent, too, in that he often hits the target but fails to actually score. For a player who has rarely contributed goals in a Brighton shirt, his regular shooting form distance can become a minor frustration for his teammates.