Playmaker's EFL 72: #45 Paddy Lane

This season's 'Playmaker 72' is whistling along nicely and we're approaching halfway in our countdown of the EFL players we think have enjoyed the best seasons. 

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!

Next up is a talented and versatile winger who has helped a sleeping giant finally clamber back into the Championship this season.

Number 45: Paddy Lane (Portsmouth)

When Portsmouth appointed John Mousinho to replace Danny Cowley back in January 2022, Eric Eisner - son of Pompey owner Michael Eisner - remarkably had to take to social media to assure fans the club weren't taking "the cheap option". 

Mousinho has since silenced those that doubted his pedigree by guiding Portsmouth to the League One title and the young manager's signing of winger Paddy Lane from Fleetwood just 11 games into his tenure was characteristically shrewd. 

On his arrival at Fratton Park, Lane spoke of his desire to learn and "soak everything up" under Mousinho, and the Northern Ireland international has been instrumental in Pompey's impressive promotion campaign this term - the south coast club winning 27 and losing just four of their 44 League One games thus far. 

Work-rate, flexibility and quality have underpinned Portsmouth's collective success this season. The 23-year-old Lane, in many ways, embodies those attributes - and his ability to play off either flank and drift into the '10' position has posed plenty of League One defence problems this season. 

Known as 'Merlin' during his non-league days at Hyde United, Lane's technical ability allied to his game intelligence makes him a dangerous operator, his 38 key passes this term underlining an ability to unlock defences with his passing. 

O Neil’s now https://t.co/lG6ByqVDYb pic.twitter.com/WOlXkH62OT

— Paddy (@PaddyLane14) April 16, 2024

Portsmouth have had a very solid spine with the likes of Norris, Shaughnessy, Pack and Bishop all key to their success, but they have relied on Lane for penetration and guile from wide areas, and 11 goals and six assists in 2023/24 underline his considerable contribution. 

Boss Mousinho has highlighted Lane's "effectiveness" and his xG stats underline an efficiency in his work - the winger outperforming his 6.62xG by a considerable 4.38xG. 

Interestingly, no player in League One has scored more goals from counter-attacks this season than Lane (4) - who has scored all 11 of his goals in the third tier from open-play, the youngster offering fluidity to a team who have been excellent from dead-ball situations. 

If Portsmouth had failed to secure Championship football, Lane would no doubt have attracted attention from clubs higher up the ladder this summer...as it is, he and Portsmouth can now look forward to guaranteed football in the second tier next season. 

Playmaker's EFL 72...the countdown

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