Gardner In Actim XI

Craig Gardner`s goal and overall performance in Aston Villa`s 3-1 away victory over Middlesbrough has seen the 20-year-old midfielder named in The Actim Index Team of the Week - the Official Player Ratings of the Barclays Premiership.

The academy product scored his first goal for the Midlands club, helping to push Aston Villa into the top half of the league. Actim Stats reveal that Gardner has made nine appearances this season, contributing nine shots, eight tackles, three clearances, six interceptions, two blocks, 60 passes, four dribbles and three crosses. He is currently ranked 376th in the Index after 648 minutes of first team action.

Gabriel Agbonlahor, who is currently ranked 13th in the division, has been another player in fine form recently. Actim Stats reveal that the England U21 striker has climbed 21 places in the Actim Index following his last three Premiership matches. So far this season he has hit eight goals and had 43 shots, while making 61 tackles, three clearances, 17 interceptions, one block, 371 passes, 52 dribbles, 68 crosses and five assists in 3,162 minutes of football.

The Actim Index is calculated using a unique mathematical formula that rates each player`s contribution be it goals, shots, passes, dribbles, tackles, crosses, saves, clearances, blocks, interceptions, time on the pitch or number of points gained by the team with marks deducted for red and yellow cards. Two additional calculations, which take account of player assists and goalkeeper`s clean sheets, have been added for the new season to increase the amount of variables a player is now measured by.

Analysis of all Barclays Premiership games is taking place throughout the season and The Actim Index Team of the Week for the Barclays Premiership is:

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