Goal.com

Goal.com celebrates the top flight's stand-out performers as we approach the half-way point, with the likes of Jan Vertonghen, Juan Mata and Robin van Persie all in form

The 2012-13 season is approaching the half-way stage and England's top flight has been as intriguing as ever, so with the busy Christmas period now well and truly in full swing, Goal.com, with the help of our unique Ratings Index, have crunched the numbers to present our team of the season so far in England's top flight...

Norwich goalkeeper John Ruddy takes the No.1 jersey having played a significant role in the Canaries' excellent start to the season. Chris Hughton's side are flying high in seventh place and Ruddy has turned in a number of solid performances, including a man of the match display in the win over Manchester United, before being sidelined with a thigh injury at the back end of November.

The back three comprises of Everton centre-back Phil Jagielka, whose impressive showings for the Toffees have led him to becoming an England regular, West Brom defender Jonas Olsson and Tottenham's summer signing from Ajax Jan Vertonghen - who opened his goalscoring account for Spurs with Sunday's winner against Swansea.

Leighton Baines, who has been Everton's Mr Reliable on the left flank in the 2012-13 campaign, is unfortunate to miss out, while the likes of Aston Villa's Nathan Baker and Brazil full-back Maicon were on the brink of inclusion although have featured in less than 10 Premier League games so far this season.

The competition is rife for a place in midfield and, after his virtuoso match-winning display for QPR against Fulham on Saturday, Adel Taarabt sneaks the right-wing berth while Marouane Fellaini slots in in central midfield having enjoyed a terrific goalscoring season to date, with eight league efforts to his name already.

Santi Cazorla has settled into life in English football following his summer switch to Arsenal, already emerging as one of the Gunners' key attacking talents, while Chelsea star Juan Mata slots in on the left wing after a highly productive first half of the season that has yielded six league goals and as many assists.

Premier League top scorer Michu is unlucky to miss out with an average of 3.10, while Eden Hazard and Raheem Sterling were a whisker away from making the cut.

A mouth-watering attacking trio features Manchester United duo Wayne Rooney and Robin van Persie lining up together. The Red Devils' front two have gelled to form arguably the most potent strike force in Europe with the pair having netted 19 Premier League goals between them so far.

Luis Suarez is the other forward to make the cut, with his 10 league strikes in the 2012-13 season to date sneaking him past the likes of Kevin Mirallas, Carlos Tevez and Aston Villa's Christian Benteke.

RUDDY

Avg Rating: 3.14

NORWICH

Games: 13 Clean sheets: 5

JAGIELKA	OLSSON	VERTONGHEN
Avg Rating: 3.22	Avg Rating: 3.09	Avg Rating: 3.13
EVERTON	WEST BROM	TOTTENHAM
Games: 17 Clean sheets: 2	Games: 17 Clean sheets: 5	Games: 16 Clean sheets: 3

TAARABT	FELLAINI	CAZORLA	MATA
Avg Rating: 3.33	Avg Rating: 3.46	Avg Rating: 3.41	Avg Rating: 3.54
QPR	EVERTON	ARSENAL	CHELSEA
Games: 13 Goals: 4	Games: 15 Goals: 8	Games: 16 Goals: 4	Games: 14 Goals: 6

SUAREZ	VAN PERSIE	ROONEY
Avg Rating: 3.47	Avg Rating: 3.35	Avg Rating: 3.38
LIVERPOOL	MAN UTD	MAN UTD
Games: 16 Goals: 10	Games: 17 Goals: 12	Games: 13 Goals: 7

*Only includes players who have featured in 10 Premier League games or more