The men’s PFA Young player of the year award has seen many youngsters notch the award for their commendable performances. The award is given on a year basis, voted by the trade union members of Professional Footballer’s Association.
Six emerging players of English football have been nominated for this award and here’s a look at 5 realistically top contenders who will be battling it out to earn the coveted award.
It is quite remarkable to see that an English player, who warmed the bench at Leicester City has emerged as a really strong favourite to win the PFA’s Youngest Player’s Player of the Year award. In 35 appearances for Tottenham so far, the amazing poacher has already bagged 22 goals and in doing so, Harry Kane becomes the first ever player since Alan Shearer to get 20 goals in back to back seasons.
Kane’s journey is a testament to the fact that times do change! Initially, the starlet was restricted to only cup games but his consistent displays over the course of the season meant that Harry was to be given a chance in the league fixtures! The guy took it with both the hands.
The fact that Kane is a homegrown talent and his rise to such levels has made Tottenham’s fans proclaim him as their own and his quite brilliant displays have even made manager Pochettino say this about Kane: “He is mature and clever. He has had good support from his team-mates and the fans and he knows how to manage this situation.”
Harry burst out on the National scene after scoring a goal having stepped onto the field on 79 seconds ago and deservingly so, he went on to win the PFA award for player of the month in March 2016 and with 22 goals so far and having created 34 chances along with a stunning passing accuracy of 74% along with 63% shot accuracy is it the time that we see Harry winning the award? That is yet to be seen!
David De Gea was scouted by the legendary British manager Sir Alex Ferguson himself and it was on one of the only three days that Sir Alex ever missed the match of his team.
De Gea came to Old Trafford in 2011 with a record fee of over 17 million Euros and his journey so far is a perfect display of resilience, hard work and more importantly, determination!
Coming as a thin lanky lad from Spain, De Gea now is arguably the best player of Manchester United on the field and is arguable in the top three goal keepers of the world. Questions were raised on whether the Spanish goal keeper would be able to adapt to the physical aspect of the English game but the Spaniard made a determined response to all the critics by providing stunning saves game after game to keep Manchester United’s opposition at bay.
This season, in 26 appearances for United, De Gea has managed to keep 11 clean sheets and he has an impressive record of averaging 2.38% saves per game. De Gea averages 0.96% goals conceded per game and he boasts of an average of 95% claim success. De Gea has saved United countless times and for this award, he looks like a really strong contender to give heavy competition for the likes of Kane and 3 others!
The greatest testament to Courtois’s ability is the fact that at the such a young age, he managed to become the first choice goal keeper ahead of the most renowned and experienced goal keeper Petr Cech!
The Lanky Belgian standing at 6’6 feet is seen as an imposing figure between the posts and he doesn’t let his height get in his way because he just pulls of some incredible saves at times. In the season of 2010/11 Courtois, was named Genk’s Player of the Year when they won the Belgian title before his move to the Bridge. He was then loaned out to Atletico Madrid, and played a crucial part in a team that won the La Liga title in 2013/14.
Courtois became the youngest goalkeeper to represent Belgium in the year of 2011 and mirroring his club progress he is now the recognised first choice keeper for his country.
Aside from his incredible athleticism and shot-stopping ability, Courtois’ mentality, control and self-assured manner instils confidence in his defensive colleagues who have had a bad season, giving the young Belgian an aura of calm beyond his years.
His potential hasn’t gone unnoticed at the highest level of the game, after Chelsea’s clash with Paris St-Germain in the UEFA Champions League this year, PSG manager Laurent Blanc stated: “What amazes me is that Courtois, despite his height, is still very quick …He’s one of the top goalkeepers in the world. Chelsea know they have one of the greatest keepers out there.”
Pacing down the left side, doubling back to help the defence, providing assists and scoring goals, Raheem Sterling saw himself do that when he rose in the Merseyside and was one of the most loved talents of England but soon though, he switched sides. He arrived at a place which the scousers hate that is Manchester. In the blue army of Manchester, Sterling is sure to develop and he is showing his development just fine besides the likes of David Silva, Sergio Aguero, Kevin De Bruyne etc.
Sterling has made 28 appearances so far this season and he has scored 6 goals. Sterling has an average shooting accuracy of 60% and an average passing accuracy, a whopping average passing accuracy of 86%. He has succeeded in 52% of his Take-Ons and has suffered 65% challenges. It just proves the dribbling capacity of the player and his ability to beat defenders or draw them towards committing fouls.
An impressive talent who’s developing according to his own terms, Raheem Sterling is bound to go a long way in his career but can he make a big leap towards earning a major award? That’s yet to be seen but no one can deny that he is a strongly deserving contender just like others in this top 5.
It was a bright start for Philippe Coutinho in 2015 where he signed five year contract with Liverpool. The Brazilian came into the national picture with his previous club Inter Milan and a move to Merseyside has just suited him better.
The main man of Jurgen Klopp has a skillset that will turn defenders inside out. His eye for goals along with stunning long shots is sure to make some fans crave for more but most importantly, Coutinho is one of the main man who leads Liverpool’s attacks.
Coutinho like Sterling loves to play in the left hand side of the pitch. Having made 20 appearances for Liverpool so far, Coutinho has scored 6 goals but he has created 31 chances for his side which is very impressive! Coutinho has averaged a successful Take-on percentage of 59% and he has suffered 71% of the average tackles, which is a testament to his ability.
Coutinho’s average passing accuracy is 78% and average passing length is almost touching 20 metres. Being the centre of the attack, the Brazilian is combining beautifully with his team mate Roberto Firmino also from the same country.
Coutinho has largely impressed in England and he’ll be eager to win this award and deservingly so!
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