The 15 Most Washed Up Players in the EPL

Here is a list of 15 washed up players, currently playing in the Premier League. For the purpose of this slideshow, I am taking washed up to be no longer as important as they previously were.

The individuals mentioned should not be considered useless, and still have some value to their team. So enjoy the slideshow and get in touch with who you think should have be included, and who should not have been.

The 32 year old Manchester United striker is a shadow of his former self. Owen is rarely seen on the pitch in the Premier League, and has to settle reserve outings and cup appearances.

Quite a change for a player that has scored over 200 career goals in club football, played 89 times for England with 40 goals, after making his name at Liverpool.

Injuries have certainly played their part in his career, but at the moment this is a career that is as good as ever. Some people would take him to Euro 2012, given his previous international goal-scoring record, but this is a luxury England cannot afford with only 23 places in the squad.

Damien Duff is another 32 year old that is playing an important role for Fulham. However, he perhaps hasn't made the sort of impact that was expected after a £17million move to Chelsea. At one stage Duff would have been considered one of the best flying wingers in the Premier League.

That can no longer be considered the case. Duff's career took a downward spiral after leaving Chelsea, but he has still managed to maintain himself in the Premier League and playing for the Republic of Ireland.

This attacking midfield player has earned a reputation for himself for being a regular provider of goals in England. This began at Millwall and since 2004 Cahill has been an Everton player.

Unfortunately, this ability has dwindled somewhat in recent times. Cahill ended a run of 13 months without an Everton goal in the recent draw against Blackburn. However, Cahill clearly is no longer the goal-scoring threat he once was.  

Yes, Alan Smith is technically still a Premier League footballer contracted to Newcastle United. However, he is no where near their first-team squad at the moment. Smith is surplus to requirements and out of contract at the end of the season.

This is all a far cry for the midfielder from his time as a player at Leeds and Manchester United. Alan Smith also won 19 caps for England scoring one goal.

Yossi Benayoun certainly does not feature in the Premier League as much as he used to. The Israeli international made a name for himself in English football, playing for West Ham.

His form for the Hammers led to a transfer to Liverpool, but since leaving Liverpool for Chelsea things have gone rapidly downhill. Benayoun received somewhat of a reprieve when he moved to Arsenal on loan.

The player has swapped Chelsea's reserve team for the fringes of Arsenal's first-team. However, league starts are still a rarity and the creative midfielder's influence is not what it once was.  

The winger made his name at Manchester City, before a £21million move to Chelsea. Being in and out of the side did not really suit Shaun.

He moved back to Manchester City to try and rescue his career, but as more and more money went into to Man City the club began to change. When QPR invested in Wright-Phillips it looked like being a top class signing.

However, it has not really worked out like that and he has been disappointing, still without his first goal. It seems light years since the player was considered England's best option as a right winger. It would be a huge shock if he was on action in Euro 2012.  

When Sunderland paid Southampton £6million for Jones it looked a quality piece of business. 26 Premier League goals later and he moved on to Stoke.

However, things have changed for Stoke and the player can no longer be considered the focal point of their attack. Signings like Peter Crouch and Jonathan Walters has limited his opportunities. Still a good player, but may need a move to prove he can still make the impact he once did.

Andy Carroll signed for Liverpool from Newcastle for an incredible £35m, but has so far failed to live up to that price tag. The striker is without a Premier League goal since the end of October.

In some ways the transfers has ruined the striker's career, and he is now trying to rediscover his goal-scoring touch. However, it remains to be seen if that can happen at Liverpool.

When Kieran Richardson was at Manchester United, he looked like he would be quite a player. However, his period at Sunderland has failed to live up to the early promise.

The once attacking midfielder/winger is now often used as a full back, which does not always fully utilize his attacking strengths.

Although, Richardson has played for England before this was some time ago, and this is another player that looks set to miss out on a place in the Euro's. Hopefully though, Richardson can rediscover his form and prove to the Premier League that he still has it. 

There was a time when Louis Saha was one of the most feared strikers in the Premier League. His goal-scoring record for Fulham led to £12.8m move to Manchester United in 2004.

The forward now plays for Everton and his record is decent enough. However, Saha is not the player he once was, and will not feature anywhere near the top of the season-end top scorers board.

David Dunn has made his career out of being a Premier League central midfielder for Blackburn and Birmingham. The player is still going strong in the Blackburn first-team, but he is not the player he once was.

At 32, he can offer some much needed experience -- even if he is not any longer the all-action midfielder.

It was not so long ago that Chelsea invested £24.4million in Michael Essien. However, new signings to the Chelsea midfield has pushed the Ghanaian down the pecking order. Nowadays, he is more of a backup central midfield player.

Certainly not the dominant force from the middle of the park from a few years ago. 

Paul Scholes is a rarity as a modern footballer, because he has only ever played for Manchester United. His is best known for a regular supply of goals, and his superb passing ability.

It was not so long ago that Scholes would have been considered a crucial part of the midfield. However, the player decided to retire at the end of the season. To everyones shock and amazement he answered a call from Sir Alex Ferguson to make a sensational return -- this season.

Paul Scholes is no longer able to make the impact he once was, and will be used mainly as a late sub.

What's wrong with Fernando Torres is anyone's guess, but the man seems incapable of scoring goals -- these days.

It has now been more than 15 hours of playing time since his last goal. The Spaniard has only scored twice in the Premier League this season, and all this for a man that cost £50million!

Watching the forward in action there does not seem to be much wrong with his level, but clearly he has no confidence. Chances he would normally finish easily, he is now taking an extra touch or snapping at shots.

It appears a move away from Stamford Bridge represents his best chance of rediscovering his goal-scoring touch. This doesn't look like the same player that scored 65 Premier League goals at Liverpool.  

Thierry Henry has recently returned to Arsenal on a short term loan deal. During his first spell with the club the Frenchman was a focal point of the attack, and was considered by many as one of the best players in the world. It was a spell that included 174 Premier League goals.

However, Henry is now 34 and is not that same player. His role is likely to be consigned to making an entry as a late sub, or possibly given the odd start to enable Robin Van Persie to rest.

He will not make the sort of impact he once did, and it's a risk from Wenger, because Henry may tarnish his lengnndary status with Arsenal fans.

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