Shock Inclusion Izzet Praised

A trio of Colchester United players, strikers Jamie Cureton and Chris Iwelumo, as well as tireless midfielder Kemal Izzet all made it into the top 50 Football League players, as selected by Four Four Two Magazine.

During the third annual celebration of the finest Football League players - that is, those outside the Premiership - the magazine`s panel of judges put Championship Golden Boot hopeful Cureton at number 15, and his six-foot four inch partner Chris at number 20.

The perhaps surprise inclusion on the list, whittled down from 1,000, comes in the shape of often unsung hero Kem Izzet. The 26-year old, not unknown for his fondness of a tackle, came in at number 34.

He has been virtually ever-present this season and supposedly attacked the interest of fellow division side Coventry City in the summer, which comes as a credit to someone whom it was widely believed lacked the quality to compete in English football`s second tier.

Small in stature he may be, but Kemi is big in the dressing-room life at Layer Road, according to his midfield comrade Kevin Watson, who recently revealed that his nickname is 'Hatchet Man.`

For Watson, Kem`s inclusion among the Football League elite is no surprise, and he said: "We have our own judge and jury in Wayne Brown, Karl Duguid and number one 'heavy` in Kemal. If anyone steps out of line Brownie and Doogie waste no time in sending Hatchet Man Izzet round."

That off-field personality, which is clear to see in his no-nascence play on the pitch, has won Kem many admires at Colchester, who has no regrets about having swapping Premiership life with Charlton - albeit in the reserves - for first-team football in Britain`s oldest recorded town.

In Izzet`s own words: "I came through with Scott Parker and Paul Konchesky and while they`ve established themselves, I`ve had to take a different route. But I believe in my ability and am proving my worth."

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