United dominate player of the year nominations

AFP - 16 April 2007 13:52

Manchester United´s Cristiano Ronaldo reacts during a charity football match against Europe XI in Manchester, north-west England, March 2007. The Professional Footballers´ Association Player of the Year award will be a case of Manchester United against the rest this season, with Ronaldo the favourite to win.

LONDON (AFP) - The Professional Footballers' Association Player of the Year award will be a case of Manchester United against the rest this season.

United dominate the award nominations with three players making the six-man shortlist.

Alongside overwhelming favourite Cristiano Ronaldo are his veteran team-mates Paul Scholes and Ryan Giggs as well as Chelsea's Ivory Coast forward Didier Drogba, Arsenal's Spanish playmaker Cesc Fabregas and Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard, last year's winner.

The award will be presented on April 22 when a United player could win it for the first time since Ruud van Nistelrooy was honoured by his peers in 2002.

Ronaldo, 22, or even 19-year-old Fabregas could be in for a unique double as both are nominated for the Young Player of the Year award category as well, alongside Wayne Rooney, the winner the last two seasons.

Reading striker Kevin Doyle, 23, Tottenham winger Aaron Lennon, 19, and 18-year-old defender Micah Richards, of Manchester City, who won his first England caps this season, are the other nominees.

Most observers believe the main award is a straight fight between Chelsea's Drogba and flying Portuguese winger Ronaldo, with the latter the clear favourite.

Ronaldo has been in startling form this season, scoring 21 goals from midfield as he has inspired United to top of the Premiership, the FA Cup final and Champions League semi-finals.

But Drogba has already passed the 30-goal mark for the season as Chelsea, who have already won the League Cup, chase an unprecedented treble.

Scholes and Giggs have both come in for high praise in the twighlight of the two veterans' careers as both have been instrumental in United's success.

Gerrard has as usual been Liverpool's heart-beat this season with Fabregas rapidly maturing at Arsenal, where he pulls the strings.

With voting among the players themselves now finished, the winners in each category will be revealed at the end of a gala dinner in London on Sunday night.

The PFA Fans Player of the Year, which is polled each month across the season, will also be announced. Football supporters will, meanwhile, get their chance to take part in a public 'Guess The Winners' vote.