Are this years EPL stars English or foreign?

Graziano Pelle has been a revelation for the Saints

Six players have starred so far in this Premier League this season according to Alex Johnson. Three of them English and three of them foreign. Do you agree with her assessments?

After a disappointing World Cup in Brazil, there was always likely to be a sharp focus on English players at the start of this season.

Who are the stars of the early exchanges and how are the home-grown players faring in comparison to the foreign stars, we take some early stock.

Diego Costa

The Chelsea striker has stolen the show to date.

Eight goals in six Premier League games is just what Jose Mourinho would have hoped for when bringing the striker from Atletico Madrid.

Costa is spearheading the Blues to devastating effect, with the likes of Cesc Fabregas and Eden Hazard ensuring the service to the Spanish international is first class.

Costa is already the clear favourite to finish the season as top marksman and if he can continue in free-scoring form he might well have a Premier League medal to go with the La Liga silverware achieved in Madrid last term.

Leonardo Ulloa

Much like Costa, the 28-year-old Argentine was given his Premier League debut with a clear goal-scoring mission.

At Chelsea the title is the aim, but for Leicester boss Nigel Pearson his key summer signing could prove every bit as valuable if the Foxes can survive.

The early signs are positive.

Ulloa attracted the interest of Pearson after impressing in the Championship at Brighton. The 8m fee for a player with no Premier League experience ensured some raised eyebrows.

He has proved something of a revelation though, scoring in the home draws with Everton and Arsenal as well as victories away at Stoke and the famous 5-3 success against Man Utd at the Kingpower.

He now looks a shrewd buy.

Graziano Pelle

Following the mass exodus at St Mary's many were predicting a doom and gloom season for Southampton.

Boss Ronald Koeman re-invested his cash wisely and the Saints currently occupy second spot.

Saints appear to have grabbed a bargain in Italian striker Graziano Pelle, signed for 8m from Feyenoord.

Pelle scored 23 goals in 28 Eredivisie appearances last term and is off to a flyer on the south coast with four goals in six league outings.

His acrobatic winner in Saturday's 2-1 win over QPR is an early contender for goal of the season.

Koeman is rightly purring over his summer capture.

Raheem Sterling

Sterling has been the bright spark in a poor opening to Liverpool's season.

Brendan Rodgers' team are unsurprisingly struggling to keep the momentum of last season's thrilling title run-in.

Rodgers is keen not to rely too heavily on such a precocious talent at the tender age of 19, but the reality for the Reds boss is that his side do not seem to carry much threat without him.

On the score sheet three times already this term; Sterling appears set for a key role, regardless of how much his manager wishes to protect him.

Wayne Rooney

The England captain must surely be rueing the moment of madness that saw him red-carded against West Ham on Saturday.

Up until that moment, Rooney had been enjoying a productive start to the season and seemed to be relishing his role as United captain.

With the arrival of Radamel Falcao, Rooney could have been forgiven for feeling threatened in his role.

Celebrating the 10th anniversary of his arrival at Old Trafford, he showed all his striking instincts with a glancing finish to give United the lead against the Hammers - his third goal of the season.

His second-half petulance though means Rooney's bright start is now on hold for three games.

Ryan Bertrand

Bertrand has been another impressive recruit at Southampton.

On-loan from Chelsea, the 25-year-old was in high demand this summer with QPR boss Harry Redknapp also keen to secure his services.

He eventually signed on for a season with the Saints and has got off to a promising start.

With three clean sheets in six games, Bertrand is part of a solid defensive unit that so far is the meanest in the Premier League.

He has also shown his willingness to get forward, as evidenced by his second-half goal against QPR on Saturday.