Uzi
14th April 2005, 14:09
Chelsea trio earn PFA nominations
Chelsea have dominated the nominations for the Professional Footballers' Association Players' Player of the Year award with three stars selected.
Captain John Terry, goalkeeper Petr Cech and midfielder Frank Lampard have all been shortlisted for the award.
They are joined by last year's winner, Arsenal striker Thierry Henry, Crystal Palace striker Andrew Johnson and Liverpool skipper Steven Gerrard.
The winner will be announced at the PFA awards dinner on Sunday 24 April.
PFA chief executive Gordon Taylor believes Lampard and Terry are the front-runners for the award on the back of the Blues magnificent season.
"Frank was knocking on the door when he was playing under Claudio Ranieri last year, when he finished second to Thierry Henry," said Taylor.
"Like John Terry, he's taken his game to another level under Jose Mourinho, who deserves a lot of credit for the way he has brought on Frank, John and Joe Cole this season.
"Frank just wants to play and, like Terry, he has been there week in, week out all season and they have both been inspirational."
Manchester United's teenage striker Wayne Rooney heads the nominations for the Young Player of the Year award.
Rooney, 19, has had an impressive season at Old Trafford since his £27m move from Everton in August.
He faces competition from fellow Englishmen Jermain Defoe, Shaun Wright-Phillips and Stewart Downing.
Chelsea's Dutch forward Arjen Robben and Man Utd's Portuguese winger Cristiano Ronaldo are also selected.
Taylor says having four Englishmen nominated for Young Player of the Year bodes well for the future of the England team.
"The England manager should be grateful that we have got talents like striker Jermain Defoe coming through," he added.
"Stewart Downing has had a taste of international football and looks like he's got the temperament and ability.
"There's no end to what Wayne Rooney can achieve and Shaun Wright-Phillips has it all to be a special flank man."
BBC Sport.
Chelsea have dominated the nominations for the Professional Footballers' Association Players' Player of the Year award with three stars selected.
Captain John Terry, goalkeeper Petr Cech and midfielder Frank Lampard have all been shortlisted for the award.
They are joined by last year's winner, Arsenal striker Thierry Henry, Crystal Palace striker Andrew Johnson and Liverpool skipper Steven Gerrard.
The winner will be announced at the PFA awards dinner on Sunday 24 April.
PFA chief executive Gordon Taylor believes Lampard and Terry are the front-runners for the award on the back of the Blues magnificent season.
"Frank was knocking on the door when he was playing under Claudio Ranieri last year, when he finished second to Thierry Henry," said Taylor.
"Like John Terry, he's taken his game to another level under Jose Mourinho, who deserves a lot of credit for the way he has brought on Frank, John and Joe Cole this season.
"Frank just wants to play and, like Terry, he has been there week in, week out all season and they have both been inspirational."
Manchester United's teenage striker Wayne Rooney heads the nominations for the Young Player of the Year award.
Rooney, 19, has had an impressive season at Old Trafford since his £27m move from Everton in August.
He faces competition from fellow Englishmen Jermain Defoe, Shaun Wright-Phillips and Stewart Downing.
Chelsea's Dutch forward Arjen Robben and Man Utd's Portuguese winger Cristiano Ronaldo are also selected.
Taylor says having four Englishmen nominated for Young Player of the Year bodes well for the future of the England team.
"The England manager should be grateful that we have got talents like striker Jermain Defoe coming through," he added.
"Stewart Downing has had a taste of international football and looks like he's got the temperament and ability.
"There's no end to what Wayne Rooney can achieve and Shaun Wright-Phillips has it all to be a special flank man."
BBC Sport.