DAVID MOYES is routinely praised for being a better bargain hunter than David Dickinson and Tim Wonnacott put together - but one of his greatest hits often goes unmentioned.

Nobody disputes Leighton Baines’ ability anymore but it’s easy to forget he cost Everton just £6m in August 2007.

The following summer Dani Alves joined Barcelona from Sevilla, with the Catalan club stumping up an eventual £30m and making Alves the most expensive defender in the world.

Fast forward four years, and it is only the Barcelona star standing between Baines and the role of Europe’s most prolific defender in terms of assists.

Such is the Kirkby-born star’s progress as his sublime left-foot has flourished, that Baines is easily unrivalled by his fellow Premier League defenders in the creativity stakes.

And consider Baines’ performances against Europe’s elite leagues, and the results further confirm what the modest, music loving defender has got in his left boot.

Only one player classed as a defender playing in England, Spain, Italy or Germany can trump Baines’ tally of 27 goal assists since the start of the 2008/9 season.