The nominees for the PFA Players' Player of the Year and Young Player of the Year have been revealed.
Professional Footballers' Association announce nominees for Players' Player of the Year and Young Player of the Year. Sky Sports runs the rule over the candidates for the 2009/10 award
The Professional Footballers' Association has announced the nominees for the 2009/10 Players' Player of the Year and Young Player of the Year.
Norman Hunter was the first recipient of the senior award following its inauguration for the 1973/74 season, while Manchester United's Ryan Giggs is the current holder.
Rare is it that a Premier League campaign reaches its conclusion with three clubs vying for the title but with just four weekends of the season left, Chelsea, Manchester United and Arsenal could all yet steal the silverware.
It seems fitting then that all three clubs have a nomination for the senior
players' prize, with Didier Drogba's muscular presence in Chelsea's attack being recognised by his fellow professionals, along with that of the scheming skills of Arsenal playmaker Cesc Fabregas.
Over in Manchester it is Wayne Rooney who has been installed as the bookies' favourite to be crowned this season's finest, courtesy of a series of inspired displays for the champions over the past 12 months.
Manchester City have gatecrashed the 'big four' this season as they bid to play UEFA Champions League football for the first time next term and in the individual honours, Carlos Tevez has done likewise.
The likeable Argentine is the darling of Eastlands after swapping red for blue in the close-season and it's fair to say Sir Alex Ferguson might just now be rueing not stumping up the required cash to retain his services over the summer.
It could be a night of double joy for Rooney and Fabregas as the pair have also both been nominated for the Young Player of the Year gong.
On two occasions the same player has won both awards for a season, Sky Sports' own Andy Gray in 1976/77 and Cristiano Ronaldo in 2006/07.
While it may seem strange to see such seasoned campaigners vying for a prize usually reserved for rising stars, it's worth remembering they are still just 24 and 22 respectively.
In terms of a player making a genuine breakthrough this season then it is perhaps Joe Hart who has made the greatest strides.
Loaned out by parent club Manchester City to Birmingham City in light of their capture of Shay Given, the World Cup hopeful has established himself as an assured and capable top flight performer.
The final candidate for the young player gong is Aston Villa's James Milner, with team-mate Ashley Young the prize's current holder. Under Martin O'Neill's stewardship the top flight's hardest working winger has blossomed into a versatile candidate for a place on the plane to South Africa.
PFA Players' Player of the Year nominees
Carlos Tevez
The 2009/10 season was destined to be a crucial year for Tevez from the moment he made his high-profile summer switch from champions Manchester United to Manchester City. He has not disappointed.
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Cesc Fabregas
The classy midfielder has been at the hub of Arsenal's quest for glory at home and abroad this season with the Gunners refusing to be written out of the title equation.
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