Wayne Rooney picked up the PFA Players Player of the Year trophy in a ceremony last night. It is the first time Rooney has won the award, voted on by fellow professionals, having scored 34 goals this season. Rooney, who won the Young Player of the Year awards in 2005 and 2006, also made the PFA Team of the Year.
Aston Villa’s James Milner (below), linked with a £24 million move to United this summer, won the PFA Young Player of the Year award. Former Leeds United defender Lucas Redebe (below) won a special merit award.
Three other United players – Darren Fletcher, Patrice Evra and Antonio Valencia – also made the PFA Team of the Year.
Voting takes place in January, which might explain the absence of Chelsea’s Florent Malouda and Frank Lampard, whose campaigns have really taken off in the past two months. Similarly, Arsenal’s Thomas Vermaelen’s good start to the campaign but poor form this year is discounted in the team award.
PFA Awards – all winners
Player of the Year: Wayne Rooney (Manchester United).
Young Player: James Milner (Aston Villa).
PFA Merit Award: Lucas Radebe.
Premier League Team of the Year: Hart; Ivanovic, Vermaelen, Dunne, Evra; Fabregas, Milner, Fletcher, Valencia; Rooney, Drogba.
Championship: Camp; Gunter, Coloccini, Williams, Diaz; Dorrans, Whittingham, Nolan, Adam; Carroll, Chopra.
League One: Davies; Richardson, Kisnorbo, Doherty, Harte; Hoolahan, Puncheon, Snodgrass, Bailey; Lambert, Holt.
League Two: Schmeichel; Brayford, C Dawson, Sharps, Kennedy; Davies, S Dawson, Jones, Law; Hughes, Le Fondre.