Milner prepares to make his 500th Premier League appearance

There was a recent point in James Milner's career where it felt as though his legacy had been eclipsed by a parody Twitter account.

Boring Milner was a viral sensation, primarily because Milner seemed like the sort of person who would really appreciate a good ironing session.

That follows his public profile as one of the earliest teetotal players in the division — he has never had a drop of alcohol.

But that has changed. This weekend, he is set to play in his 500th Premier League game and there is now a sense that he is being appreciated.

He is about to join an exclusive club. Only 12 other players have managed a half century of Premier League matches, with names like Gareth Barry and Ryan Giggs at the top of the charts.

But Milner has been around the division since he was 16 years old.

Back in 2002, he was a fresh faced player at Leeds, coming through the club's Thorp Arch academy and making an impact in the first-team under Terry Venables.

He became the second youngest player to make his Premier League debut, at the time, when he appeared against West Ham. Only 18 16-year-olds have ever player in the Premier League.

He then went on to become the youngest player in history to score in the Premier League to score after bagging against Sunderland.

That goalscoring record has since been eclipsed by James Vaughan, but it symbolises a player who was a prodigious talent from the off. He genuinely had his pick of sports.

Milner played for the Yorkshire Schools cricket team, which Joe Root and Jonny Bairstow came through later. He was also a cross-country champion and was the best 100 metre runner in his district.

That athletic ability probably speaks for his longevity — and the speed at which he has reached 500 appearances in the top flight. Only Barry has managed it at a younger age than Milner's 32 years and 338 days old, which is how old he will be on Saturday when Liverpool face Bournemouth.

Some of the other stats surrounding Milner demonstrate just how underappreciated he has been. David Beckham has a reputation as a corner and free-kick king, but he only ever provided as many assists as Milner's current 80.

And the 32-year-old also holds a unique record. After scoring in Liverpool's win against Burnley on Wednesday, he has now gone 50 games unbeaten in which he has scored. That is the most in Premier League history.

His position as a utility player has possibly damaged him over the years. Of his 499 appearances so far, 125 have come as a substitute — there's only four players that have been substituted on more often.

But there is plenty of love for Milner across the division. He is one of just four players in the division's history to play more than 100 games for three different clubs. Milner represented Aston Villa, Manchester City and Liverpool in a century of games.

Yet there is a sense that he is peaking now, at Liverpool, and that is also reflected in the numbers. He has made 110 appearances for them — just 30 less than for City in over a season longer — and his 15 goals for them is more than any of his other clubs.

It is now time to truly appreciate Milner.

Paul Scholes ended his career on 499 Premier League appearances, and no one would dare call him boring. The same should be applied to Milner.