Tottenham striker Harry Kane heads the list of six players nominated for the PFA Player of the Year award.
Kane, who has scored 19 goals in the league already this season, is joined on the shortlist by Manchester United’s David de Gea, Liverpool’s Philippe Coutinho, Arsenal’s Alexis Sanchez and Chelsea duo Diego Costa and Eden Hazard.
Here’s why each player deserves to win it…
Harry Kane
Kane’s nomination caps a superb breakthrough season for the 21-year-old, who has scored 30 goals in all competitions for Spurs including a first Premier League hat-trick against Leicester last month.
The England forward is currently the Premier League’s joint top scorer with Costa.
Diego Costa
Costa has has enjoyed an excellent first season after moving to Chelsea from Atletico Madrid last summer.
The 26-year-old found the net seven times in his first four matches and, despite suffering from a recurring hamstring problem, has 20 goals in 35 appearances for the Blues, who are seven points clear at the top of the table.
Eden Hazard
Chelsea’s charge towards the title owes much to the form of Hazard, who Jose Mourinnho last week declared “by far the best player” in the league.
The Belgian winger, who won the PFA Young Player of the Year Award last year, has managed 12 goals and nine assists in the current campaign.
Alexis Sanchez
Sanchez has lived up to high expectations after Arsenal paid around £35 million to sign him last summer.
The talented Chilean has notched 14 goals and eight assists in his debut season in England, helping the Gunners to second in the table.
Philippe Coutinho
Brazil midfielder Coutinho is nominated after a sparkling campaign for Liverpool.
Coutinho has scored six goals including a couple of screamers for the Reds, as his all-round game continues to develop and improve.
David de Gea
In what has been a patchy campaign for Manchester United, De Gea has been their rock – an ever-present and consistent performer who will attempt to become the first keeper to win the award since Peter Shilton in 1978.
Much debate has surrounded who is the best keeper in the Premier League, him or Courtois – with the pair both nominated for the young player award.
Source: SNAPPA
