Adrian Clarke's look at five improved players starts with Watford midfielder

Every new season gives players a fresh chance to impress managers and supporters alike and during the first seven matches of the 2016/17 Premier League a number of players have caught the eye.

Adrian Clarke looks at five unexpected heroes, starting with Watford's star man this term.

Walter Mazzarri is the sixth head coach to work with Capoue at senior level, but the first to see beyond the Frenchman’s obvious defensive qualities.

At 1.88 metres tall, the midfielder has primarily been employed in deep-lying roles, or even as an auxiliary central defender.

Clarke says Mazzarri has been the first coach to see beyond Capoue's (right) defensive prowess

But Watford's new head coach has chosen not to restrict the 28-year-old and it is a vision that has paid off.

Stationed on the left of a three-man midfield and afforded the liberty to drive forward at will, Capoue has scored four Premier League goals from open play this season.

The key to his burgeoning goal threat is the intelligent timing of Capoue's forays into the penalty area.

He does not make many wasted runs. He has touched the ball just 10 times inside the box, scoring on 40% of those occasions.

Capoue's penalty area touches in 2016/17

Mazzarri must have concluded that the way Capoue marries physicality with guile was being squandered in a role solely focused on curbing rivals.

Without sacrificing his ability to retrieve possession - he is making as many tackles per match – the former Spurs midfielder's destructive running power and craft are now also offensive weapons.

Playing closer to Troy Deeney and Odion Ighalo is also a plus. In 2015/16, Capoue was too detached from Watford's front pair, meaning that 13% of his distribution was long.

That figure has dropped to 9% this term, as he has been encouraged to link up with shorter passes, and in turn supply a better-quality service.

Capoue, right, has linked up well with Troy Deeney, the Watford striker

This campaign Capoue has created a chance every 86.4 minutes, compared with every 117.6 minutes in 2015/16.

Capoue is essentially the same player he has always been, breaking up play and keeping the ball neatly, but with Valon Behrami Watford's principle holding midfielder he has greater freedom to attack.

The Hornets' No 29 is fast becoming an effective, all-round, box-to-box midfielder.

Tomorrow: Adrian Clarke on Hull City's Sam Clucas