PFA Young Player of the Year 2023/24 shortlist confirmed
- PFA announce six-player shortlist for Young Player of the Year award
- Kobbie Mainoo and Alejandro Garnacho among nominees
- Bukayo Saka eligible to win award for second successive season
By Sean Walsh
The Professional Footballers' Association have confirmed their six-player shortlist for the 2023/24 Young Player of the Year award.
Footballers aged 21 and under at the start of the season are eligible for the award, which is voted on exclusively by active players part of the PFA union.
Bukayo Saka won the 2022/23 award, and he is set to defend his title after receiving a nomination for the following season's gong. Saka turned 22 in September 2023, meaning he fit the necessary age criteria by one month.
The winger enjoyed another fine season for Arsenal as they finished as runners-up to champions Manchester City for a second straight year, registering 16 goals and nine assists in 35 Premier League games.
Manchester United are the only team with two players on the shortlist, with Kobbie Mainoo and Alejandro Garnacho up for the award. Though Garnacho was already an established member of the first team, Mainoo enjoyed a fine breakout season after returning from an ankle injury.
Garnacho was one of United's most reliable players across the entire year, tallying seven goals and four assists from 36 appearances, while Mainoo came up with three goals and one assist from midfield in 24 games.
Cole Palmer is one of the frontrunners for the award following a sensational debut season with Chelsea in which he provided 33 goal involvements - 22 goals and 11 assists - in 33 matches for the Blues.
Brighton & Hove Albion forward Joao Pedro is one of only two nominees who was not at a traditional 'big six' club last season. Following a summer move from Watford, he played 31 times for the Seagulls, grabbing nine goals and three assists in that period.
The final nominee is no longer a Premier League player. Michael Olise completed a move to Bayern Munich in July after a stunning final campaign with Crystal Palace. Though he only played 19 games, he still tallied ten goals and six assists.
The winners of the PFA awards will be announced on August 20.
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