After a week of national team duels, the break for national team competitions ended, and players returned to their teams to continue the club season. However, for some Premier League players, this break was necessary for them to try to regain good playing form.
Injuries, failures, or simply bad form spoiled the season start for these players, so after a short break, all eyes will be on how they will perform to show the kind of game everyone expects from them.
Bleacherreport.com journalist Mark Jones selected the top ten most improved Premier League players.
Memphis Depay
Despite a good debut performance at Manchester United, Depay failed to maintain good form and lately has been overshadowed by fellow United newcomer Anthony Martial.
Memphis was substituted in the last three matches, and his playing time decreased. In the last match against Arsenal, he was substituted immediately after the first half.
In order not to lose the trust of the team's coaches, the Dutchman will have to show better performance in the weekend match against Everton.
Diego Costa
After admitting what was obvious to everyone: that he returned to Chelsea this year overweight, Diego Costa certainly did not help himself with his behavior during the match against Arsenal, after which he received a suspension.
But now the suspension is over, and he returns to the field in Saturday's match against Aston Villa. It can be expected that after a few weeks of intense training, the Spanish national team player will be leaner and more similar to the player the fans were used to seeing last season.
A few weeks without matches should have been dedicated to refreshing his physical condition, which the striker definitely lacked. It is obvious that for the struggling Chelsea team, good performance from him is needed now.
Wilfried Bony
It must be acknowledged that he was not given many opportunities to improve his form this season. However, now, with Manchester City's leaders David Silva and Sergio Aguero out due to injuries, the team will need the striker to show that Bony was worth the £28 million the club spent to acquire him in January.
When the Ivory Coast national team player is in great form, he can be one of the best Premier League strikers, but City fans have yet to see such a representation from Bony.
The time has come for Wilfried Bony to show what we saw when he played for Swansea City.
Eden Hazard
Reading an interview published by Eurosport, it seems that even Eden Hazard himself cannot understand why he is displaying such poor performance this season. The Belgian admitted that his current form is the worst in his entire career.
Previously one of the main reasons why Chelsea won the Premier League title last year, this year Hazard and his poor performances best reflect the kind of game Jose Mourinho's team is showing. Currently occupying only 16th place in the tournament table, they will step onto the field against Aston Villa hoping to show some of that magic that Hazard can create.
After all, such performance from the Belgian midfielder must return sooner or later, right?
Wayne Rooney
While it is debatable whether his poor performance is due to a decline in form or a dropping level of play, it is clear that Manchester United would benefit from better play from their team captain. Considering the tough schedule ahead for the team, it will be a perfect time to start showing better performance for him this Saturday in the match against his former team Everton.
Surrounded by fast players and excellent playmaker Juan Mata, Rooney has no excuses playing for the club led by Louis Van Gaal. If he does not improve his game soon, the Englishman may feel the pressure of criticism from the team's coach.
Cesc Fabregas
One of the biggest differences between this season and last year's Chelsea is the lack of influence of Cesc Fabregas on the team's results. The Spaniard is having a tough season, and it is hurting his team.
The Blues' king of assists from the 2014/2015 season has regressed significantly, and his poor form was perfectly reflected in the international break when he missed an eleven-meter penalty for Spain.
The former Arsenal representative seems to be one of those players who just seem too good for these performances to continue, but he will have to find his game back soon. Otherwise, replicating last season's success for his team may prove to be too difficult.
Martin Skrtel
After the changes in the Liverpool club, new team coach Jurgen Klopp will definitely pay attention to the fact that the most used center-back in the team, Martin Skrtel, has not played well in recent matches.
Under Brendan Rodgers' leadership in the last matches, Skrtel easily lost to large and powerful forwards. He had particular trouble stopping Aston Villa's player Rudy Gestede and Everton's representative Romelu Lukaku. Currently, the Slovak does not seem like a defender who can be stronger than his opponents' strikers.
Klopp is coming to Anfield with his ideas and playing philosophy, so in order to remain the main team defender, Skrtel will have to show what he does best.
Nemanja Matic
Yes. Another Chelsea player.
Matic's decline in performance is simply stunning. The midfielder not only does not resemble the solid, reliable, and robot-like defensive midfielder we saw in the 2014/2015 season, but he is often just bypassed and loses direct duels to opponents.
During this international break, in the match against Portugal, the Serb managed to earn a red card, so when he returns to the aristocrats' team, both he and the team understand that such weak performances as he has shown this season cannot continue.
Harry Kane
Perhaps criticizing this player's game is a bit harsh, as all he lacks is goals, which is difficult for this hard-working player, but the Tottenham Hotspur and England national team player has set himself a high standard with his amazing performance last year.
Scoring a goal in the match against Swansea, Kane scored in such a way for the third time in three years. Considering that this year the player has already scored as many times in his own net as he has for opponents, the Spurs team will need much better performances from their attacking leader.
There is no doubt that this will change soon, so all that is left for the fans is to hope that Kane will remember the taste of goals in Saturday's match against the rejuvenated Liverpool team.
Branislav Ivanovic
The list must end with another Chelsea player.
If Jose Mourinho continues to insist on playing Ivanovic, the Serb will have to significantly improve his performance, as otherwise, the Blues will continue to be very vulnerable on the right side.
Often making mistakes and not being able to keep up with any pace dictated by the play on the right side, Ivanovic looks like a very poor imitation of the player who was selected for the symbolic best players of the season last year.
If the defender continues to look so poorly, even Mourinho will have to bench the Serb.
