Chelsea duo Eden Hazard and N’Golo Kante have seen their sparkling displays for the Blues acknowledged with nominations for England’s Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA) Player of the Year award.
The duo are joined on a six-man-strong shortlist announced Thursday that also includes Manchester United’s Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Arsenal’s Alexis Sanchez, Everton’s Romelu Lukaku and Tottenham’s Harry Kane.
Kante, who would become the first foreign player to win the Premier League title with two different clubs in successive seasons, gets another shot at English football’s top honour after he was beaten to it last year by then Leicester City team-mate Riyad Mahrez for his part in their memorable title triumph.
Hazard won the award two years ago when Chelsea last won the Premier League and has been inspirational in the Blues’ charge to reclaim their crown from the Foxes.
Maverick United striker Ibrahimovic continues to confound critics after a sensational debut campaign in English football and gets due recognition, while Lukaku is currently the Premier League’s top scorer with 23 goals so far this season, sparking rumours of a move away from Goodison Park.
Kane, the only Englishman among the PFA nominees, has scored 19 goals for Spurs while, across north London, Sanchez’s 18 league goals have been perhaps the only highlight in a drab campaign for the Gunners.
The 2016/17 season winner will be announced at London’s Grosvenor House hotel on April 23.
Meanwhile, Spurs duo Kane and Dele Alli have been shortlisted for the Young Player of the Year award, the latter getting recognition for his 16 goals this campaign in another title charge for the Londoners.