EVERTON’S IRISH MIDFIELDER Seamus Coleman has been included on the seven-man shortlist for the PFA Young Player of the Year award which was announced earlier today.

The 22-year-old from Donegal has made 28 Premier League appearances for the Toffees so far this season, getting his name the scoresheet against Blackpool, West Ham, Tottenham and Fulham.

He is joined on the shortlist by Manchester City goalkeeper Joe Hart, Jack Wilshere of Arsenal who has been installed by bookmakers as the early favourite for the award, and Manchester United pair Nani and Javier Hernandez.

Arsenal’s Samir Nasri and Tottenham’s Gareth Bale are the final two names on the list of seven, though both will have their eyes on the senior Player of the Year award for which they have also been nominated.

Manchester City striker Carlos Tevez, Rafael van der Vaart of Tottenham, Manchester United defender Nemanja Vidic, West Ham’s Scott Parker and Blackpool’s Charlie Adam are the other nominees for the award.

If Coleman manages to collect the gong on April 17th, he will become the first Irish player to win the junior award since its inception in 1973/74. Liam Brady, Paul McGrath and Roy Keane have all previously won the main prize.