Gareth Bale and Robin van Persie are in the running for a second PFA Player of the Year award after a six-man shortlist was revealed. Gareth Bale Juan Mata Eden Hazard Robin van Persie Luis Suarez Michael Carrick Jack Wilshere Christian Benteke Danny Welbeck Romelu Lukaku
The 2013 winner will be announced at a dinner in London later this month with Van Persie's Manchester United team-mate Michael Carrick, Liverpool's Luis Suarez and Chelsea duo Eden Hazard and Juan Mata the other nominees.
Bale - the 4/11 favourite with Sky Bet - was the winner in 2011 but has hit career-best form this term, his thrilling bursts of speed and 17 Premier League goals inspiring Tottenham's Champions League charge.
Van Persie was honoured last year after his most fruitful campaign for Arsenal but a £22.5million move to Manchester United has proved no burden.
The Dutchman's 21 league goals for the champions-elect have been decisive in the title race, while behind him, Carrick has been a constant stabiliser in a rotating United midfield.
Hazard has netted 12 times for Chelsea in his first season since joining from Lille for £32m, while Mata's influence has grown in his second term at Stamford Bridge, the Spaniard contributing a league-best 10 assists as well as 18 goals.
Suarez may long have courted controversy but Liverpool'the Liverpool striker has made the headlines for more of the right reasons in Brendan Rodgers' debut campaign at Anfield with a league-leading 22 goals and 29 in all competitions.
Six players are up for the PFA Young Player of the Year award with Bale, Hazard, Christian Benteke, Romelu Lukaku, Danny Welbeck and Jack Wilshere nominated.
Aston Villa striker Benteke has been a bright spark for Paul Lambert's strugglers, bagging 15 Premier League goals so far this season, while his Belgium team-mate Lukaku is also in contention having netted 13 times in 15 Premier League starts on loan from Chelsea at West Brom.
Versatile Manchester United forward Welbeck, in line for a first Premier League winners' medal, also makes the shortlist, and Arsenal midfielder Wilshere, winner of the 2011 Young Player's Award, is rewarded for an impressive return from a series of injuries.
Source: Newcastle United Mad
Source: FOOTYMAD
