Defenders are supposed to stop goals not make them, yet these 6 players have had their hand in a record number of strikes within the Premier League era.

With all six defenders playing in the full back role, it's obvious that their forward play down the flank allowed them to set up teammates more than any other defenders in the history of the division.

Here are the six highest assisting defenders in Premier League history...

6. Gary Neville

Number of Premier League assists: 35

Not necessarily known for his offensive qualities, Neville's sheer endurance as part of Mancherster United's back line has put the former England international into sixth place. Having been a regular starter for the Red Devils for nearly two decades, the 42-year-old reached 35 assists by the time he hung up his boots in 2011.

5. Andy Hinchcliffe

Number of Premier League assists: 36

Hinchcliffe remarkably got three dozen assists in the Premier League, despite retiring in 2002. The assured left back, who amassed seven caps for the England national side, played for a trio of top flight sides; Manchester City, Everton and Sheffield Wednesday.

However, he had already left Maine Road to join the Toffees by the time the Premier League came into existence.

4. Ian Harte

Number of Premier League assists: 36

Joining him in joint fourth place is another dependable left back, Ian Harte. The former Republic of Ireland international is also one of the highest scoring defenders in the top flight, but he was equally successful in assisting others too.

Bar eight appearances for Sunderland in the 2007/08 campaign and 18 for Reading six seasons later, Harte spent all of his days in the Premier League with Leeds United.

He now works as an agent, assisting players with their dealings. Eh? Eh?

3. Antonio Valencia

Number of Premier League assists: 38

Some would argue that the Ecuadorian international is more of a winger, but Valencia has been deployed as a full back for the past few seasons at Manchester United and thus cements his place in this list with 38 assists. Signed from Wigan Athletic in 2009, the 31-year-old has been part of the Red Devils' first team plans ever since.

2. Graeme Le Saux

Number of Premier League assists: 44

A Premier League winner in 1995 with Blackburn Rovers, Le Saux was a reliable distributor of the ball from the left flank and his offensive ability convinced Chelsea to re-sign their former academy graduate for £5m in 1997, which made him the most expensive defender in English football at the time.

1. Leighton Baines