Hard to see past Aguero for PFA Young Player of the Year award
Published:As such an integral part of Premier League title challengers Manchester City, it is easy to forget that Sergio Aguero, 10/11 to be named PFA Young Player of the Year, is just 23 years of age.
The Argentinian forward has adapted to the English game with minimal ease, racking up an impressive haul of 21 goals in just 27 league starts, to see him third place in the leading scorer charts.
A healthy total of assists have also contributed greatly to City’s title charge, and the diminutive striker looks a shoo-in to claim this major honour in his maiden Premier League season.
Amongst the other challengers for the gong, Tottenham winger Gareth Bale comes close in the betting as a 5/2 shot to follow up his 2011 PFA Players’ Player of the Year award with this trophy.
Bale carried his blistering form of last season into this term from the off, and has amassed a higher total of assists from his left wing berth this term too, though his and Spurs’ campaigns have tailed off somewhat over the past few months.
With that said, it could be worth avoiding 7/4 chance Kyle Walker, though his breakthrough season at White Hart Lane should not be discounted by any means.
Walker has broken into the England setup after a string of impressive performances, and made the right-back slot his own for Champions League challengers Tottenham, though his position could count against him, as the last defender to claim the accolade was inaugural winner Kevin Beattie back in 1974.
Meanwhile, Danny Welbeck is 12/1 for the award, and he and 25/1 Daniel Sturridge can be proud of their efforts in cementing regular starting berths for Manchester United and Chelsea respectively this season, but their goalscoring records pale in significance against favourite Aguero’s.
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain completes the shortlist, and had the 33/1 prospect started more regularly, he would likely be attributed a much shorter price.
As it is, his immense potential would seem to indicate he has more realistic chances of claiming next year’s award, should he feature more regularly for Arsenal.
