The current Premier League season has provided many surprises with Liverpool and Manchester City having an off-season following an intense title race last term. Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal have taken full advantage and are charging towards the Premier League title, with Manchester United also fighting near the top. Many of the ‘big six’ clubs’ top players have performed admirably and are well in the mix for the PFA Player of the Year award at the end of the season. Some players are on course to complete record-breaking seasons, and a number of Three Lions stars are also in the running according to the sports betting markets. What are the chances of an English winner of the award for the first time since Wayne Rooney in 2009/10?
Marcus Rashford – Manchester United’s star of the season
The England international had experienced a tough few years before Erik ten Hag took over at Old Trafford last summer. In the 2021/22 season, he found the net just four times in the Premier League in a difficult season for the club which was led by two different managers in Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Ralf Rangnick. But this season under the Dutch coach Rashford has experienced a huge rejuvenation. After 22 games played in the league, Rashford had averaged 0.5 goal per game which is one of the highest tallies on record across the entire league. As of 10th February, Betway’s English Premier League PFA Player of the Year betting market offers Rashford at 16/1 to scoop the accolade at the end of the season.
Wayne Rooney 🤝 Marcus Rashford @MarcusRashford is the first @ManUtd player to score in six consecutive appearances at Old Trafford in the #PL since @WayneRooney in April 2012#MUNLEE pic.twitter.com/mvS955dW5z
— Premier League (@premierleague) February 8, 2023
Rashford has shown a level of confidence and composure in his forward play this season that many fans and coaches may have believed had been lost from his game. He has been part of a United outfit that has lacked stability in the last few years in regard to a clear project and a long-term manager being in place. Rashord has performed consistently this season regardless of the uncertainty that surrounds the future ownership of the club, with the club having been put officially on the market late in 2022. The Red Devils now look to head in the right direction under ten Hag, and it is no surprise that the problems off the pitch being tackled has coincided with Rashford’s strong form. His performances this season have meant ten Hag has urged the forward to sign a new contract at United seen at 90min.
Rashford has turned up in all sorts of games consistently this season, even in the highest-pressure moments against the league’s leading teams. His goal against Liverpool at Old Trafford earned his team victory and his man-of-the-match performance against Arsenal in September helped set the momentum for United’s season as they have established themselves comfortably in the UEFA Champions League qualification spots. Rashford is having possibly the greatest season of his career so far, and he is certainly United’s greatest chance to have a Player of the Year winner this term, followed by Casemiro.
Harry Kane – The most complete player in the league?
Harry Kane’s excellent form this season has been overshadowed by the goalscoring form of others in the league; however he has still been one of the standout players. In his first 22 appearances, he scored 17 times which put him second in the race for the Golden Boot. Despite not being the leading goalscorer in the league, Kane’s tally is nothing short of phenomenal considering he is far from a penalty box striker. Kane drops deep in between the opposition’s midfield and defensive lines to help his Tottenham Hotspur side build the play and sustain pressure on the opposition. Kane is a creative midfielder and a prolific forward moulded into one, but that has not stopped him from breaking many goalscoring records throughout his career seen at UEFA.com. He spends much of his time playing deeper than an average forward yet he outperforms a majority of the league in regards to scoring goals. His performances this season have put him in the running to secure the prestigious PFA award, with odds of 33/1 as of 10th February, meaning he is far from the outright favourite but he has an outside chance of claiming the accolade for the first time.
Harry Kane is only the third player EVER to score 200 Premier League goals 👏 pic.twitter.com/jNvHStSiQX
— GOAL (@goal) February 5, 2023
Kane has often turned up in big games this season similarly to Rashford. He scored a vital goal at home to Pep Guardiola’s City to harm their league title aspirations and earn his side an unlikely victory at the Tottenham Hotspur stadium in January. Kane has also found the net against Liverpool, Arsenal and Chelsea this season as he has led Spurs’ charge into the European qualification spots. Kane has a strong claim to being the league’s most complete player regardless of whether he scoops the award this season.
The betting markets suggest a host of City and Arsenal players are more likely to claim the award including Belgian international Kevin de Bruyne. The result of the title race will greatly impact the nomination of this season’s leading player. The betting odds will change as players experience ups and downs in terms of their form. Rashford and Kane have undoubtedly had seasons to remember irrespective of whether they replicate Rooney’s feat or not.
