Denis Bouanga: The Saint-Etienne star shining brightly under Puel

The player leading the WhoScored man of the match standings is one you may not have heard of, particularly outside of France. In previous seasons, the likes of Lionel Messi, Neymar, Cristiano Ronaldo and Robert Lewandowski have either led the way, or featured towards the top, of this metric, all of whom are household names. 

Denis Bouanga, though, is an unlikely leader of this particular stat on the continent. The Gabon international has won more WhoScored man of the match awards (5) than any other player in Europe's top five leagues this season. Of those five, four have come in his last four Ligue 1 outings as Saint-Etienne secured 1-0 wins over Lyon, Bordeaux and Monaco and earned a 2-2 draw with Amiens. 

In that run, the 24-year-old has scored two and assisted one, with the former stat helping Les Verts to commendable wins at Bordeaux and against Monaco last weekend. Claude Puel's impact in his upturn in form cannot be overestimated. Indeed, following the Iceman's return to Ligue 1, Bouanga's WhoScored rating is a healthy 8.20, that the fourth best of those to have featured in at least three of the league's four matches since the beginning of October. 

Prior to Puel's appointment, Bouanga's WhoScored rating was a lowly 6.68. He showed glimpses of his quality before October, but his recent form is that of a world beating winger. That he has operated in three different positions under Puel speaks volumes of his willingness to help the team. 

With Nimes last season, Bouanga featured prominently on the left where he could maximise his impressive turn of pace to breeze past opponents. Teji Savanier may have been the headline grabbing performer for Les Crocodiles, yet Bouanga was still on hand to score eight goals; no Nimes player netted more in Ligue 1. 

The issue was that Bouanga lacked consistency to put in a prolonged run of form. Despite his goalscoring exploits, he returned a WhoScored rating of just 6.79, yet that wasn't enough to deter Saint-Etienne, who paid £4m to secure his services from Nimes. That he had a direct hand in just two goals in his opening eight appearances suggested that the winger would again struggle maintain s purple patch of form in his new surroundings, however that was more indicative of their poor performances under Ghislain Printant.

Sacked eight games into the season with Saint-Etienne mired in the relegation zone, having netted just seven times, it wasn't a shock to see Printant relieved of his duties. The departure of Remy Cabella didn't help the 58-year-old, but the team's struggles were evident by their position in the table as they picked up just eight points from eight matches. 

Conversely, under Puel, Saint-Etienne have earned more points (10) than any other Ligue 1 side since October 1st, with Bouanga's goal contribution earning the side five of their 10 points. Releasing the summer arrival from his shackles has certainly helped. Under Pritant, Bouanga completed just 12 dribbles from eight appearances. With Puel at the helm, that figure rises to 17 from four, reinforcing a statistically calculated WhoScored style of play of 'likes to dribble'.  

Those 17 successful dribbles is more than any other Ligue 1 player since the start of October and it helps Saint-Etienne stretch opponents and affords the team a fine attacking outlet to help ease pressure on the defence, that in itself remaining steadfast as it to be expected under Puel. But with Puel willing to sacrfice possession and remain tough to break down before springing rapid counter-attacks, an in-form Bouanga is an effective weapon. 

Since the beginning of October, Saint-Etienne's possession average of 42.4% is the fifth lowest in Ligue 1, which effectively indicates the approach Puel will implement and it means that maximising a statistically calculated WhoScored strength of 'attacking down the wings' is pivotal. As such, utilising Bouanga's driving ability on the ball has been a contributing factor to Saint-Etienne's rise up to eighth in the table. 

Next up for Puel's side is a trip to Nantes side that has conceded just once in six home league matches this season, so Les Canaris' resolve will be tough to break. Having passed a series of tests with flying colours, however, Bouanga will be aiming to maintain his flying form that guaranteed him a spot in the Ligue 1 and European team of the month for October, and earn the winger his sixth WhoScored man of the match award of the season in the process as Saint-Etienne seek to make it 13 points from five games since Puel's appointment.