Playmaker's EFL 72: #41 Ben Sheaf

We are now racing through into the mid-40's of players we think have had the best seasons throughout the EFL in the 2024 iteration of the 'Playmaker 72'

It's certainly been no easy task, but - just to clarify - our '72' is less a roll call of the best footballers in the EFL and more a tribute to those players who have enjoyed the most memorable seasons while racking up the most impressive stats.

Whatever the criteria, we're confident in our selections of the most outstanding players through the Championship, League One, and League Two and welcome any debate on the subject!

As we hurtle towards the top-half of our ’72 of the 72’, the next man on the list could have defining role this weekend in the FA Cup as we focus in on Coventry City midfielder and club vice-captain Ben Sheaf.

#41: Ben Sheaf (Coventry City)

The 26-year-old Dartford-born midfielder has been instrumental in the Sky Blues’ midfield since 2021 and will be hoping to help Cov over the line at Wembley Stadium on Sunday afternoon as they take on Manchester United in an FA Cup semi-final.

In the Championship, the former England U18 international has excelled once again this season as he helps Mark Robins’ men try and hunt down the final playoff spot after finishing as playoff runners’ up last season but it does now appear to be a forlorn hope. 

The defensive midfield man, who came through the academy at Arsenal, has been essential in breaking up the play for Robins’ side, who are extremely effective in transition as a result of Sheaf’s work.

What a season for Ben Sheaf 😍 @EASPORTSFC TOTS Live is in #FC24 now.

Tell us who makes your EFL Team of the Season 👀#EFL | #AD pic.twitter.com/fqpZ2aYd3w

— EFL (@EFL) April 19, 2024

At 3.6 tackles per game so far this season, he has 1.3 more than anybody else in the Coventry squad and it is the most of any player on average in the Championship so far this season.

Only centre-back Kyle McFadzean, who has played over a thousand fewer minutes than Sheaf, manages more interceptions per 90 than Sheaf in the Coventry squad, too. 

There will be several clubs interested in the Englishman during this summer transfer window, especially with Coventry set to stay down in the second-tier, but he is a prized asset for the midlanders. Luton Town, for example, are one team that were heavily linked in the January window. 

Playmaker's EFL 72...the countdown

42: Jobe Bellingham 43: Devante Cole 44: Jacob Greaves 45: Paddy Lane

46: Herbie Kane 47: Dan James 48: Archie Collins 49: Karamoko Dembele

50: Haji Wright 51: Dan Crowley 52: Cameron Brannagan 53: Aaron Collins

54: Andy Cook 55: Connor Shaughnessy 56: Jannik Vestergaard

57: Willy Gnonto 58: Ellis Simms 59: Charlie Hughes 60: Fatawu Isshaku

61: Sam Hoskins 62: Paul Mullin 63: Chris Martin 64: Omari Hutchinson

65: Isaac Hutchinson 66: Sam Tickle 67: Ben Hinchcliffe 68: Michał Helik

69: Lewis Wing 70: Rob Apter 71: Kyle Walker-Peters 72: Alex Palmer