Harry Kane is the only player from outside the Premier League’s top two in 2022/23 to be nominated for the Professional Footballers’ Association Players’ Player of the Year award.
Unsurprisingly, Manchester City hitman Erling Haaland is one of the players nominated and will likely walk home with the award.
The 23-year-old Norway striker was a sensation in his debut season in English football, scoring 52 goals in all competitions as Pep Guardiola’s side won the Premier League, Champions League and FA Cup.
Haaland is joined on the six-man shortlist by Belgium playmaker Kevin De Bruyne and England international John Stones.
The Barnsley-born player, 29, was a revelation as Guardiola pushed him up from defence into midfield last season.
De Bruyne, who will miss a large chunk of the season thanks to a hamstring injury, made Haaland’s job a lot easier, contributing with 31 assists across all competitions last term.
Arsenal were City’s closest challengers in the Premier League last term and two of their star performers, Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard, are also on the list.
England winger Saka enjoyed his finest season to date, scoring 14 goals for the Gunners and contributing 11 assists.
Norway international Odegaard led by example as Arsenal captain and hit 15 goals and added seven assists.
The only player on the list from outside the Premier League’s top two in 2022-23 was Harry Kane.
The England captain, who has since completed a summer move to German champions Bayern Munich, hit 30 top-flight goals last season for Tottenham, second only to Haaland’s tally of 36.
Kane’s campaign would have made him the favourite for every individual accolade any other year. Unfortunately for him, Haaland is simply ridiculous.
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