Football News: Underrated workhorse or overrated carthorse, James Milner is an enigma to many

No matter which set of fans you ask, there are very few players that can split opinions in quite the way James Milner does.

Depending on who you speak to, he is either a lower league clogger who got lucky because he runs around a lot or he is a quality player who is vastly underrated because of his work rate.

England fans will either love him for his tireless work or think he is just a headless chicken who is keeping better players out of the team.

Newcastle, Villa, Leeds and Man City fans are just as divided on a player who is as often castigated for being English as he is lauded for it.

One side will say he is overrated because he is English, the other will say it is because he is English no one rates him as they should.

It is odd that a lad who has had success in his club career with current club Man City, has never quite been able to completely win over the fans, despite his non stop tireless work with every club he has played for.

A lack of real flair and pace has meant he isn't the exciting winger most fans want to see their club and country have on the flanks.

Instead he is a technically gifted crosser of the ball, who works hard and provides excellent protection to his full back.

Unfortunately for him, that has not been enough to keep his place in the team week in, week out, and he is now more of a squad player, an important one no doubt, but still a squad player rather than a regular first choice.

His contract is up in the summer, and City would like him to stay at the Etihad, but that status as a back up has seen him reluctant to sign a new deal.

But where could he go to continue his career, as he is not going to be able to move up from the Citizens while staying in English football.

Could Milner have a future in Italy, Spain or France?

Written by Tris Burke December 05 2014 16:41:58