Playmaker's EFL 72: #32 Marc Leonard

Playmaker's countdown of the EFL's best performers this season is whipping along nicely as we head carry on in the early thirties.

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!

They say you should never fall in love with a loan player, but it's hard for Northampton Town to resist the charms of midfielder Marc Leonard...

Marc Leonard (Northampton Town)

Former Scottish youth international Leonard initially joined Northampton Town on loan last season while the Cobblers were in League Two. The Glasgow-born midfielder quickly became a vital cog for Northampton helping them earn their place in League One for the 2023/24 season.

After signing a new Brighton contract until 2025, Leonard returned to Northampton Town to help them stay very comfortably in the third tier with the player now sparking interest from a number of Championship teams.

In fact, Leonard has been so good that he was named the Northampton Town Men's Player of the Season and the Player's Player of the Season just to underline the impact the 22-year-old has made as he continues to improve.

🏆 Was it ever in doubt?! A huge congratulations to Marc Leonard who is your men’s Player of the Season! 👏

🤝 Sponsored by @InTownAuto #ShoeArmy 👞 pic.twitter.com/IuxgcjcowK

— Northampton Town (@ntfc) April 21, 2024

Indeed, Leonard has been the ironman for Brighton this season featuring 48 times in all competitions, more than any other Northampton player with Mitch Pinnock the closest on 47. That includes starting in all 45 League One games for the club so far this season.

As well as contributing five goals and six assists to the Cobblers' league campaign this year, Leonard has been vital in breaking up opposition play.

The midfielder ranks third in League One for tackles won (72), behind only Harvey Knibbs (76) and George Dobson (81). Leonard is also ranked seventh in the third tier for interceptions with 60.

"I’ll be sorry to go,” Leonard said back in March with his time at Sixfields coming to an end. 

“It’s been a blast. It’s been so good. I couldn’t have asked for much more from the staff, the players, the fans, everybody. It's felt like home ever since I first came here and I’ve really enjoyed it. It’ll be sad when I do go.

Safe to say, the Cobblers' faithful will be sad too.

Playmaker's EFL 72...the countdown

33: Josh Sheehan

34: Matt Smith 35: Kwame Poku 36: Illan Meslier 37: Aden Flint

38: Ronnie Edwards 39: Josh Sargent 40: Alex Gilbey 41: Ben Sheaf

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