Premier League champions Manchester United provided five of the six nominees for the Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA) player of the season award when they were announced on Tuesday.
The only non United player to be nominated is Liverpool’s inspirational captain Steven Gerrard.
The United quintet are headed by favourite for the award Serbian central defender Nemanja Vidic, veteran Welsh star Ryan Giggs – who has never won it – Vidic’s centreback partner Rio Ferdinand, Portuguese winger Cristiano Ronaldo and veteran Dutch goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar.
For Giggs it probably represents his last crack at getting the ultimate nod from his peers while Gerrard can hope that he benefits as David Ginola did in 1999 by winning because the vote for the United players is split – something that infuriated Sir Alex Ferguson.
Ronaldo is bidding to become the first player to win it on three successive occasions.
United’s recent slump in form didn’t matter as the voting for the nominations took place prior to it.
The decision will be announced in London on April 26.
Nominees
PFA player of the year award:
Rio Ferdinand (Man Utd), Steven Gerrard (Liverpool), Ryan Giggs (Man Utd), Cristiano Ronaldo (Man Utd), Edwin van der Sar (Man Utd), Nemanja Vidic (Man Utd)
PFA young player of the year award:
Gabriel Agbonlahor (Aston Villa), Rafael Da Silva (Man Utd), Jonny Evans (Man Utd), Stephen Ireland (Man City), Aaron Lennon (Tottenham), Ashley Young (Aston Villa)
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