Erling Haaland and Bukayo Saka lead PFA Player of the Year awards nominations

17 August 2023 , 09:56

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Erling Haaland broke records in his debut Premier League season (Image: Manchester City FC via Getty Images)

Erling Haaland and Bukayo Saka’s fantastic seasons have been recognised by their peers in two nominations for Professional Footballers’ Association awards.

Manchester City were the stand-out team in the 2022/23 season, winning the Premier League, Champions League and FA Cup. Their incredible campaign was spearheaded by Haaland, who scored 52 goals in 53 games across all competitions and broke the Premier League single-season scoring record with 36 in 35 games.

Haaland, 23, leads the nominees for the Professional Footballers’ Association Player of the Year award and the Young Player of the Year. Saka, 21, enjoyed his best season in an Arsenal shirt, returning 14 goals and 11 assists in the Premier League, and is also included on both lists, which are voted for by fellow players.

Haaland and Saka are joined on the player of the year shortlist by Kevin De Bruyne, who contributed 10 goals and 31 assists in 49 games for Manchester City, and John Stones, who was a key player at the back for Guardiola’s side.

Stones won plaudits for adapting to become not just a dependable defender, but a highly dependable holding midfielder too. The England international often played a hybrid role, showing the characteristics which make him one of the most intelligent players in the Premier League.

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Arsenal led the Premier League title race for much of the 2022/23 season and Mikel Arteta’s side are represented on the list by two of their top talents, Saka and Martin Odegaard.

Erling Haaland and Bukayo Saka lead PFA Player of the Year awards nominations

Bukayo Saka enjoyed his best ever season in 2022/23 for Arsenal (AFP via Getty Images)

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The Gunners captain was influential for Arteta’s side, combining his understated type of leadership with being the team’s creative fulcrum. He contributed 15 goals and eight assists in the Premier League and clearly impressed his colleagues.

The final nominee for the player of the year award is Harry Kane, who had yet another brilliant season, despite playing in a struggling Tottenham side. Kane has now left Spurs for Bayern Munich, but if 2022/23 ends up being his final campaign in the Premier League it was a good way to bow out: 30 goals in 38 games, his joint-best tally in a league season.

The list of young players sees two nominations each for Arsenal and Brighton. Alongside Saka is his 22-year-old team-mate Gabriel Martinelli, who got 15 goals and five assists in the Premier League last season.

Moises Caicedo has been nominated for the PFA Young Player of the Year award (Getty Images)

Brighton finished sixth – their best ever position in the league – and their success was aided by some exceptional youngsters. Moises Caicedo, 21, was exceptional at the base of midfield and has become the league’s most expensive player following a £115million transfers to Chelsea.

He is joined on the list by 18-year-old Evan Ferguson, who caught the eye with six goals and two assists in the league last season.

The final nominee for young player of the year is Aston Villa star Jacob Ramsey, who at 22 years old grabbed six goals and seven assists from central midfield.