Nani

Nani has stepped up to the plate for Manchester United and has been their most potent attacking force for much of the campaign.

A product of the Sporting Lisbon academy system, that was snapped up by Manchester United while still in his teens, who went on to make the right wing position his own, while becoming an integral part of the Portugal national side. Sound familiar? A certain Mr Cristiano Ronaldo meets all of the above criteria, and he has gone on to become the most expensive player in world football and a former FIFA World Player of the Year. The Real Madrid forward can also count a PFA Young Player of the Year award among his enviable medal collection, secured midway through his United career back in 2006/07. Shortly after he picked up that trophy, Sir Alex Ferguson looked to repeat the trick by raiding Sporting for another tricky wideman with bags of potential: Nani. Four years on and the man drafted in to initially provide cover for his fellow countryman has well and truly stepped out of a Ronaldo-shaped shadow and become a global star in his own right. The 2010/11 campaign has seen Nani come of age, with the 24-year-old now regarded as an integral creative cog in an Old Trafford machine which continues to tick along nicely, moving ominously into a position to collect multiple honours as it goes. He has already appeared in more Premier League fixtures this season than he has in his previous three as a United player, while a return of nine goals has seen him more than double his previous best tally. Nani will probably admit that the 2009/10 campaign was one of gradual progress, with it always going to take time to adjust to the pressures which accompany being a first-team regular. He gradually grew accustomed to that responsibility as the year wore on and has been able to step up another gear this term, much to the delight of his manager and team-mates who have been quick to hail his ongoing development. The remainder of the season is now all about helping United over the line - in the Premier League title race, bid for UEFA Champions League glory and FA Cup run. Should he be able to achieve such a feat, it would be difficult to argue against his claims to the PFA Young Player of the Year award - with there no question that he has played a leading role in the Treble quest. He has already notched vital goals against the likes of Tottenham and Manchester City in the league and Bursaspor in Europe, so a few more efforts like that and Nani could see a price tag already reported to be edging towards £50million rise a little higher - not that United and Ferguson have any intention of selling, of course.