Player Focus: April's Form Players Across Europe

As April comes to a close, and with it the 2011/12 season enters the finishing straight across Europe, we analyse the players that have shown the most improvement over the last month to ascertain those finishing the campaign the strongest.

We have calculated the top player from each league in terms of the biggest increase in WhoScored rating from the past month against their seasonal average, gauging those who have really hit their best form as the season draws to its conclusion.

Premier League - Steven Pienaar (Everton)

We begin in the Premier League with a player who has been rejuvenated since a return to pastures old with Everton. On loan from Tottenham, midfielder Steven Pienaar, along with fellow January signing Nikica Jelavic, has been key to The Toffees’ tremendous form of late. Such is the impact that both he and Jelavic have made, Everton have netted 1.91 goals per game with Pienaar in the side compared to just 1 per game without him.

Over the past month the South African has scored 2 goals and provided a phenomenal 5 assists in 4 appearances. He has averaged 4 key passes per game and 2 shots per game in an attacking sense, as well as seeing plenty of the ball on the left flank, cutting inside to average 75.5 touches and 48 passes per game with an 83% accuracy. These excellent figures have led to a WhoScored rating of 8.22 for April, which is a massive 1.47 increase from his modest seasonal average of 6.75.

Bundesliga - Daniel Caligiuri (Freiburg)

Freiburg's 24-year-old left-winger Daniel Caligiuri has been in and out of the team this season, though his form of late suggests he should have been more in than out after just 17 starts. Starting all 5 games in April, the German has been a key component to his side's recent successes, with Freiburg unbeaten in their last 10, climbing well clear of the relegation zone and seemingly avoiding any sort of hangover from the loss of Papiss Cisse.

Caligiuri has weighed in with 2 goals and set up a further 2 this month, with both assists coming in a man of the match, WhoScored perfect 10 rating display against Cologne last time out. He has averaged a massive 4.2 dribbles over the five starts but also displayed a fantastic defensive contribution to make 4.4 tackles and 2.2 interceptions per game. His all-round contribution has led to a rating of 8.21 for this month - up 1.26 from an impressive seasonal average of 6.95.

La Liga - Jonas (Valencia)

Unlike Pienaar and Caligiuri before him, the exploits of Valencia's Brazilian playmaker Jonas have somewhat contrasted against a disappointing run of results for his club. By no means a mainstay in Unai Emery's XI, the 28-year-old has certainly staked his claim for a place in the side of late, starting as many as 7 matches in all competitions in April.

When limited to the league alone, Jonas has made 4 appearances, dropping to the bench in the most recent defeat to Malaga despite netting 4 league goals his aforementioned starts this month. He has attempted a hefty 3.25 shots per game in that time but has offered little in a defensive sense, with just 0.5 tackles and 1 interception per game. Nevertheless, a further 1.25 key passes per game have seen him reach an average rating of 7.91 for April having averaged 6.84 over the course of the season.

Serie A - Andrea Pirlo (Juventus)

The fact that Andrea Pirlo is the most improved player in Serie A over the past month according to WhoScored is remarkable given the fact that he has been superb all season long for table-topping Juventus. A player whose game seemingly improves the less dynamic that he becomes, with Vidal and Marchisio doing the leg work alongside him, Pirlo's technical excellence has seen his signing rightly lauded as a masterstroke by The Old Lady.

Now 32, the Italy international is given the freedom to dictate Juve's play from deep and his touch and technique is such that he appears to have endless amounts of time on the ball when in possession. He has registered 3 assists from an incredible average of 5.7 key passes and proven to be an excellent goal threat despite only netting once in April from 3.3 shots per game. The most unbelievable stat of all has seen the veteran average 127 touches per game, leading to 94.3 passes a match, a 91% accuracy and a huge average rating of 8.95, up from an already superb 7.95.

Ligue 1 - Josua Guilavogui (Saint Etienne)

21-year-old defensive midfielder Guilavogui is emerging as one of the hottest prospects in France right now courtesy of some eye-catching recent displays for Saint Etienne. With just 21 starts to his name, the youngster had to bide his time to break into the side but is one of the first names on the teamsheet nowadays, playing every minute of the last 7 games and starting 9 of the last 10.

He has provided 2 assists from deep in his last two matches, including a man of the match performance against Dijon last time out. However, it is his defensive attributes that stand out and will certainly draw the attention of prospective suitors, averaging 3 tackles and 3.5 interceptions per game in April, as well as maintaining a decent 81% pass accuracy. With an average rating of 7.69 this month, Guilavogui has shown an improvement of 0.94 on his seasonal average of 6.75.