PFA announces player of year nominees

The Professional Footballers' Association (PFA) has announced the six nominees for the player of the year award as voted for by their fellow professionals.

The Premiership's top scorer, Didier Drogba, is named alongside Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard, who won the award last year.

A trio of Manchester United players are also in the running – Cristiano Ronaldo, who has developed into one of the world's most gifted players this season, joins veteran campaigners Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes on the list.

Arsenal playmaker Cesc Fabregas is the sixth player nominated for the award after enjoying an excellent season in the Gunners' engine room, despite enduring a difficult time of late.

The young Spaniard had not scored this season until he netted against Bolton Wanderers during Saturday's match at the Emirates Stadium, despite playing a major part in Arsenal's season so far.

Drogba has impressed the critics this season with a career year at Stamford Bridge. He became the first Chelsea player since Kerry Dixon to score 30 goals in a season and his form has overshadowed the arrival of £30 million man Andriy Shevchenko.

The Ivorian striker's greatest challenge to scooping the overall award arguably comes from Old Trafford.

The form of the United midfield this year has been the difference between the two title-chasing sides, most notably the role of Giggs as a playmaker and the resurgent Scholes.

Scholes missed significant playing time last year with an eye problem and many pundits have suggested it is no coincidence that his return this season has coincided with the club's title push.

However, the form of both the United veterans has taken a backseat in the headlines to the emergence of Portuguese winger Ronaldo.

The precocious talent of the youngster in recent years had always been lost amid the lack of an end product and a tendency to overdo things.

This season though, the 22-year-old has fulfilled his potential, leading manager Sir Alex Ferguson and team-mate Wayne Rooney to label him "the best player in the world" at the moment.

The award presentation ceremony will take place at the Grosvenor House Hotel in London on Sunday night.

Full list of nominees for PFA player of the year award:

Didier Drogba (Chelsea)
Francesc Fabregas (Arsenal)
Steven Gerrard (Liverpool)
Ryan Giggs (Manchester United)
Crisitano Ronaldo (Manchester United)
Paul Scholes (Manchester United)