IRELAND INTERNATIONAL Evan Ferguson has been rewarded for his fine start to life at Premier League level with a nomination for the PFA Young Player of the Year award.
After playing a handful of games in the 2021-22 campaign, the 18-year-old established himself as a regular at Brighton last season.
The Meath native scored 10 goals in all competitions, including three on their run to the FA Cup semi-finals, while his six goals in the Premier League helped Brighton to an impressive sixth-place finish and qualification for the Europa League.
Already, Ferguson is off the mark this season, coming off the bench to score late on in their Premier League opening 4-1 win over Luton.
An Irish footballer has never won the PFA Young Player of the Year award since the accolade was established in the 1973-74 season.
Elsewhere, Erling Haaland is one of three members of Manchester City’s treble-winning team to be nominated for the Professional Footballers’ Association Players’ Player of the Year award.
The 23-year-old Norway striker was a sensation in his debut season in English football, scoring 52 goals in all competitions as Pep Guardiola’s side won the Premier League, Champions League and FA Cup.
Haaland is joined on the six-man shortlist by Belgium playmaker Kevin De Bruyne and England international John Stones.
The Barnsley-born player, 29, was a revelation as Guardiola pushed him up from defence into midfield last season.
Arsenal were City’s closest challengers in the Premier League last term and two of their star performers, Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard, are also on the list.
England winger Saka enjoyed his finest season to date, scoring 14 goals for the Gunners and contributing 11 assists.
Norway international Odegaard led by example as Arsenal captain and hit 15 goals and added seven assists.
The only player on the list from outside the Premier League’s top two in 2022-23 was Harry Kane.
The England captain, who has since completed a summer move to German champions Bayern Munich, hit 30 top-flight goals last season for Tottenham, second only to Haaland’s tally of 36.
Joining Ferguson on the Young Player of the Year shortlist are Haaland, Arsenal duo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli, former Brighton teammate Moises Caicedo and Aston Villa’s Jacob Ramsey.
Additional reporting by Press Association
