Harp strikes Actim chord

Reading`s James Harper netted what could prove to be a priceless winner against Middlesbrough last weekend to earn the highest score of the week for a midfielder and his highest score of the season in the Actim Index, the official player ratings system of the Barclays Premier League.

Harper’s injury-time strike ended a run of eight successive league defeats for the Royals and saw the 27-year-old secure a season’s-best 41 points for his performance.

It helped the Englishman climb 21 places into 60th overall, Reading’s third-ranked player so far this campaign.

Nicky Shorey remains the highest-placed Royal in 39th, with Stephen Hunt further back in 57th position and keeper Marcus Hahnemann is two places adrift of Harper in 62nd.

Analysis of all Premiership games is taking place throughout the season and the players in the Actim Index Team of the Week are:

Name/Team/Position/Match Score

Brad Friedel,Blackburn Rovers, Goalkeeper, 24

Ashley Cole, Chelsea, Defender, 35

Fabio Aurelio, Liverpool, Defender, 32

John Terry, Chelsea, Defender, 24

James McEveley, Derby County, Defender, 24

James Harper, Reading, Midfielder, 41

Joe Cole, Chelsea, Midfielder, 38

Michael Ballack, Chelsea, Midfielder, 33

Owen Hargreaves, Manchester United, Midfielder, 33

Mikael Forssell,Birmingham City, Striker, 69

Ayegbeni Yakubu, Everton, Striker, 50

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, assists, clean sheets, time on the pitch or number of points gained by the team with marks deducted for red and yellow cards.