Bale, Van Persie, Hazard among nominees for PFA Player of the Year award

London: A group of players from Premier League sides Manchester United, Chelsea, Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur have been nominated for the 2012-13 Professional Footballers` Association (PFA) Player of the Year and Young Player of the Year.

Gareth Bale (Tottenham), Michael Carrick and Robin van Persie (Manchester United), Juan Mata and Eden Hazard (Chelsea) and Luis Suarez (Liverpool) have been nominated for the PFA Player of the Year award according to a leading English daily. The report further said that Bale, Christian Benteke (Aston Villa), Romelu Lukaku (West Bromwich Albion), Danny Welbeck ( Manchester United), Hazard and Jack Wilshere (Arsenal) have been nominated for the Young Player of the Year award . According to the report, although the inclusion of Bale, Mata, Suarez and Van Persie have been expected in the main category, the selections of Hazard and Carrick in particular are likely to raise eyebrows. The report explained that although Hazard had enjoyed a strong debut season since joining Chelsea and helped the Blues to the semi-finals of both the Europa League and FA Cup, some may claim that other players were more worthy of inclusion. Similarly, the report also mentions Carrick`s inclusion, saying that although the midfielder has played a key role in United`s dominance of the Premier League this season, yet with just one goal and four assists this season, others might feel aggrieved to have been overlooked. Among those not on the list that might have expected to have been include Swansea City striker Michu, who has scored 17 Premier League goals in his debut season for the Welsh side, as well as three in their run to the League Cup title, the report added. ANI