Premiership leaders Manchester United dominate the nominations for the Professional Footballers’ Association Player of the Year award, with man of the moment Cristiano Ronaldo, Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes all making the six-man shortlist.
Chelsea striker Didier Drogba, Arsenal midfielder Cesc Fabregas and Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard, the 2006 winner, complete the contenders for the prestigious award, which will be presented on April 22.
Portuguese winger Ronaldo, 22, and Fabregas, 19, are also in the hunt for the PFA’s Young Player of the Year award.
Manchester United and England forward Wayne Rooney, 21, will be looking for a hat-trick, having won the accolade in both 2005 and 2006.
Reading striker Kevin Doyle, 23, Tottenham winger Aaron Lennon, 19, and 18-year-old defender Micah Richards, of Manchester City, who won his first England caps this season, are the other nominees.
Manchester United produced one of the greatest European performances of all time at Old Trafford, defeating AS Roma 7-1 and marched on the UEFA Champions League semi-final.
United will meet AC Milan or Bayern Munich in their first semi-final since 2002.
Roma with the 2-1 lead from first leg in Rome, started brightly and looked more likely to open the scoreline at Old Trafford. Francesco Totti was just a feet away from finding the net, but United kept its nerve and soon… things changed.
The part played by Cristiano Ronaldo in Wayne Rooney’s sending off during last summer’s World Cup quarter-final will perhaps never be forgotten by those with the good of English football at heart.
Rooney, though, has clearly allowed himself to forgive.
Not only are the two young players increasingly close team-mates and friends in Sir Alex Ferguson’s rampaging squad, but Rooney is also happy to concede that Ronaldo has recently outstripped him on the field to the extent that he now believes him to be the best player in the world.
Another video by Joga TV… Ronaldo, Wayne Rooney, Rio Ferdinand, Anton Ferdinand, Robbie Keane and Cesc Fabregas playing mini-futsal. Manchester United legend Eric Cantona appeared briefly to introduce the short video clip.
Cristiano Ronaldo insists he and Wayne Rooney are “like brothers” after their World Cup bust-up.
The Portugal star was blamed for Rooney’s controversial red card in the quarter-final clash which saw England dumped out of the tournament on penalties.
Bur Ronaldo, 22, said United’s form this season shows that his relationship with Rooney has grown stronger since then.
“After everything that went on Wayne and I are still the best of mates. That has been proved by the way we have played this season,” Ronaldo said.