The League One landscape is often dominated by headline strikers, big-name loanees, and clubs with Premier League-sized expectations.
But beneath the surface lies a layer of players whose influence far outweighs their recognition—footballers quietly driving their teams forward without the spotlight they deserve. This list is for them.
These are the players who don’t always grab the back-page headlines or dominate social media chatter but who have been crucial to their clubs’ fortunes in the 2024/25 campaign. Whether it’s through tireless defensive work, understated creativity, or relentless consistency, each of these individuals has made a significant impact without wide acclaim.
In a division where physicality, tactical versatility and endurance matter as much as flair, these underrated performers have thrived. They may not top the goals or assists charts, but ask their managers and teammates, and you’ll hear just how important they are.
10. Max Crocombe – Burton Albion
In a season where Burton Albion battled against the odds, Max Crocombe was one of the few constants in a campaign full of turbulence. The 31-year-old New Zealand international started 45 of Burton’s 46 league fixtures, keeping them competitive in games where they were otherwise second-best. His commanding presence, shot-stopping ability, and vocal leadership were vital for a side that often struggled defensively.
Crocombe joined Burton in June 2023 from Grimsby Town and has since become their first-choice goalkeeper. While the Brewers finished in the bottom half, it could have been much worse without his interventions—especially in one-goal games, where he consistently made key saves. His performance in the 1–0 away win at Carlisle United typified his value: decisive, reliable, and unfazed.
He doesn’t get the recognition of flashier goalkeepers in the division, but Crocombe’s calm authority and work rate made him one of the unsung heroes of Burton’s survival effort.
9. Joe Powell – Rotherham United
Joe Powell’s move to Rotherham United ahead of the 2024/25 season was always likely to make headlines—but the 26-year-old midfielder still added depth and experience to a squad undergoing major change. Signed on a free transfer from Burton Albion in May 2024, Powell brought with him over 130 EFL appearances and a reputation for clever movement, set-piece ability, and a cultured left foot.
While his first season in South Yorkshire didn’t explode statistically—he registered one goal in 26 league appearances—Powell’s real contribution came in the way he kept Rotherham ticking in possession. Deployed in a variety of midfield roles under Steve Evans, his tactical intelligence and reliability on the ball helped the Millers build attacks more methodically, especially against stronger sides. His eight assists, hidden from those who do not dig deep enough, underline his impact.
He’s not a headline-grabber, but Powell plays with a maturity and technical polish that often goes unnoticed. In a team focused on stability, his presence has been a quiet but valuable asset.
8. Dara Costelloe – Northampton Town (on loan from Burnley)
At 22, Dara Costelloe feels built for moments. Signed permanently by Burnley in 2021, he’s spent the 2024/25 season on loan with Northampton Town and has taken to League One like a duck to water. With six goals in 15 appearances, he’s earned rave reviews from manager Kevin Nolan and Lampard-like plaudits for his directness and finishing edge.
Costelloe brings pace, sharp movement, and composure in front of the goal—qualities that quickly made him a fan favourite. He also seems to thrive on responsibility, taking himself into main striker duties and not shying away from big-match occasions. Burnley took note earlier in the season, extending his contract before the loan move, signifying their belief in his upward trajectory.
He may not yet have a household name, but for those watching closely, Costelloe has been League One’s most exciting developing talent this season.
7. Panutche Camará – Crawley Town
If Crawley Town punched above their weight this season, credit Panutche Camará at the core. The 28-year-old Guinea-Bissau international returned to the club in August 2024 and, from midfield, produced a campaign of two-way energy and technical poise. He started 28 League One games (14 from the bench), scored four goals, and added another four assists.
Camará’s real impact lies underneath the numbers—his intelligent pressing, box-to-box coverage, and late runs made him a reliable outlet in tight matches. He also bagged a key equaliser against Reading, showing he can deliver in big moments. In a typical Championship-Heads-over-Hype season, Camará has been Crawley’s engine room—and still deserves more plaudits than he gets.
6. Jonny Smith – Wigan Athletic
Jonny Smith’s move to Wigan Athletic in July 2023 hardly sparked football obsessives, but since arriving, the 27-year-old winger has been a steadying force in a squad in transition.
Before joining the Latics, Smith built a solid reputation in League One with 77 league appearances and nine goals for Burton Albion. Over the current season, he’s featured in 46 league matches for Wigan, contributing six goals and a handful of assists, while averaging over 2,000 minutes on the pitch.
Smith isn’t a generic wide man—his direct dribbling, sharp movement, and eye for key passes give Wigan’s attack both shape and unpredictability. And unlike more flamboyant names, his consistency goes unsung. His ability to hug lines, create space, and combine intelligently make him one of the division’s most reliable wingers. Quietly, Smith has helped Wigan stay competitive and credible throughout the campaign.
5. Harvey Knibbs – Reading
Reading’s faithful followers already know how lethal Harvey Knibbs is, but it’s high time the rest of the EFL lavished praise on the striker. The 26-year-old—a product of Nottingham Forest and Aston Villa academies—joined Reading in July 2023, and while the Royals missed out on promotion, Knibbs certainly didn’t. He started 41 league games in 2024/25 and finished with a classy 14 goals and 6 assists from a compact 5’9” frame.
But it’s not just the numbers. Knibbs has an exceptional knack for timing, ready to tuck in short passes and fade out wide into space. He scored 8 at home and 6 away, proving consistent whenever he pulled on the number 7 shirt. He’s the kind of striker who works relentlessly off the ball, presses intelligently, and pops up in the box when you least expect it.
He may not be topping goal charts (he’s in the top ten, but not at the summit), but Knibbs has all the hallmarks of a player whose impact is far greater than his league-wide recognition lets on.
4. Sean Roughan – Lincoln City
It’s hard not to respect someone who played every single minute of Lincoln’s 2024/25 League One campaign—and that’s exactly what 22-year-old Irish defender Sean Roughan achieved. While his club agonises over possibly losing him this summer, fans know what they’ve had: a composed, versatile centre-back who quietly finished the season with 46 starts, four goals, and five assists from the heart of defence.
Roughan came through Lincoln’s academy, had a brief loan stint with Drogheda United in 2022, then cemented himself in the first team. This season, his positional discipline, calm on the ball, and vocal leadership helped Lincoln maintain a strong defensive record despite heavy rotation around him. Plenty of scouts will have noticed, but nationally, he’s still flying under the radar. That needs to change, and perhaps it has with his recent move to Huddersfield Town.
3. Jon Russell – Barnsley
When Barnsley signed Jon Russell from Huddersfield Town in January 2023, few predicted just how quietly impactful he’d become. Now 24, the Jamaican international has emerged as the heartbeat of the Reds’ midfield across both the 2023/24 and 2024/25 campaigns.
In the latest season, Russell made 40 league appearances with 11 goals—an impressive tally for a box-to-box midfielder. His height (6’2”) and physicality allow him to dominate duels, while his intelligent passing and timing into the box showcase his tactical acuity. He’s equally adept at screening the back four or bombing forward at crucial moments, and his two international caps suggest bigger stages may await.
Russell never chases headlines, but Barnsley’s revival—from mid-table obscurity to play-off contenders—has been built on his industry and consistency. That combination of knack for goals, midfield dominance, and understated professionalism makes him one of the league’s most underrated talents.
2. Carl Piergianni – Stevenage
If you’re looking for someone to calm a backline while doubling as a threat at set-pieces, start with Carl Piergianni. At 33, the commanding centre-back not only marshals Stevenage defensively but chips in with goals—three in League One this season, including a crucial equaliser in a 1–1 away draw at Reading (although his own goal did open the scoring). That’s alongside 44 appearances across all competitions, showing he’s the backbone of the spine.
Originally from Peterborough’s academy, Piergianni has built his leadership reputation through stints at Boston United, Salford City, Oldham, and now Stevenage, where he was made captain after helping them win promotion from League Two. The 2024/25 season saw him keep scores of clean sheets, organised in the air, and rock-solid in duels—steering the side to safety without the fanfare of flashier defenders.
Unheralded but ever-present, Piergianni is exactly the kind of unsung hero this list is built for: quietly commanding, fundamentally dependable, and worth acknowledging before someone else does.
1. Ethan Galbraith – Leyton Orient
At just 24, Ethan Galbraith has quietly become indispensable to Leyton Orient’s midfield. A Northern Ireland international and ex-Manchester United youngster, he moved to Orient in June 2023 and has since been a near ever-present. In the 2024/25 League One season, he racked up 78 appearances and weighed in with 10 goals—an exceptional return for a central midfielder.
Galbraith is the kind of player who blends technical comfort with positional intelligence. He reads the game well, controls the tempo, and picks out passes that unlock defences. His ability to contribute at both ends of the pitch—tackling diligently and arriving late to score—makes him one of the most balanced midfielders in the division. But he somehow flies beneath the radar: not a flashy winger or prolific scorer, yet vital in every facet of Orient’s campaign. Expect Gareth Ainsworth to rely on him again next season—and some Premier League scouts to sit up and take notice.
