Coleman on shortlist for PFA award

Soccer: Republic of Ireland international Seamus Coleman has been nominated for the PFA young player of the season award. While the Everton winger has made a seven-man shortlist, there was no place for Wigan playmaker James McCarthy.

Gareth Bale and Samir Nasri are both included in the young player category and are also been nominated in the player of the year section.

England and Manchester City goalkeeper Joe Hart, Arsenal starlet Jack Wilshere and Manchester United pair Nani and Javier Hernandez are the other contenders for the young player prize.

Bale’s Spurs team-mate Rafael Van der Vaart is also in contention for the main award along with Manchester City’s Carlos Tevez, Manchester United defender Nemanja Vidic, West Ham midfielder Scott Parker and Blackpool talisman Charlie Adam.

Bale and Nasri are bidding to emulate Andy Gray (1977) and Cristiano Ronaldo (2007) as the only players to previously win both awards in the same year. Wayne Rooney was last year nominated in both categories but took the chief prize while James Milner was young player of the year.

PFA chief executive Gordon Taylor believes the lists are reflective of an exciting season.

Taylor said: “It is certainly very competitive. There has been no outstanding favourite so it will be very interesting to see who people think are favourites. Last year Wayne Rooney had an exceptional season.

“This year there are some very good contenders and it is nice to see some homegrown players in there as well. That is encouraging.”