Man City midfielder has surpassed Eric Cantona's long-standing assist-per-match record

Ryan Giggs may be hold the record for the most assists, one current player can claim to be the most efficient providers of assists in Premier League history.

Kevin De Bruyne has overtaken Giggs and many other creators to boast the best assist-per-match record in the competition.

The Manchester City midfielder is averaging 0.44 assists per match. With 18 assists last season and three this, he has pulled further clear of Eric Cantona's long-standing best rate of 0.36 (having played a minimum 50 matches).

Best assist-per-match rates

Player Matches Assists Assists/match De Bruyne 71 31 0.44 Cantona 156 56 0.36 Ozil 121 42 0.35 Fabregas 318 107 0.34 D Silva 227 70 0.31 Reyes 69 21 0.30 Beckham 265 80 0.30 Bergkamp 315 94 0.30 Nani 147 43 0.29 Henry 258 74 0.29

De Bruyne has some way to go to catch Giggs's total.

The former Manchester United winger's 162 assists came in 632 appearances, a rate of just under one every four matches.

If the Belgian keeps up his current rate he will have to make 369 career appearances, 298 more than his currently tally.

Another current player, Cesc Fabregas, is the closest to Giggs's record.

The Chelsea mdifielder's assist-per-match average of 0.34 is the fourth-best in PL history and he is one of only four players to reach a century of assists.

But Fabregas is still 55 short of the record and would have to make another 159 appearances at his present rate to pip Giggs.

Even if he kept up his assist-per-match rate, time could run out on the 30-year-old Spaniard.

Most PL assists all-time

Player Assists Ryan Giggs 162 Cesc Fabregas 107 Frank Lampard 102 Wayne Rooney 101 Dennis Bergkamp 94

See: Gamechangers: Cantona