Fans have reacted with fury to the Premier League‘s Young Player of the Season shortlist, as half the candidates overlap with the main prize.
Supporters will help to vote for the winner of the Young Player of the Season, from eight nominees who were aged 23 or younger at the start of the 2023-24 campaign, and these will be combined with the opinions of a panel of football experts.
But the inclusion of Newcastle’s Alexander Isak, who turns 25 in September, and Man City‘s Phil Foden, who won the prize in 2021 and 2022, have led to ire from fans on social media, who think the rules need changing.
Isak, Foden, his City team-mate Erling Haaland and Chelsea‘s Cole Palmer have all been included in the nominations for Premier League Player of the Season, as well as for the prize for those only aged 24 or younger.
Manchester United‘s Kobbie Mainoo, Arsenal pair Bukayo Saka and William Saliba, and Spurs defender Destiny Udogie have also been nominated for Young Player of the Season.
Alexander Isak is on the league’s Young Player of the Season list despite turning 25 this year
Previous winners Phil Foden and Erling Haaland are also nominated for the prize once again
Sky Sports pundit Dougie Critchley said on X (formerly Twitter): ‘Isak is 24… Haaland, Foden, Saliba are 23
‘There is no way they should be nominated for young player of the year!
‘Should introduce the PFA’s rule for their YPOTY award… 21 or under as of 1st July the previous season
‘Mainoo, Palmer, Saka, Udogie would all count!’
One fan wrote: ‘Ah yes Phil Foden father of 2 and is turning 25 next year is a nominee for young player of the season.’
Another claimed: ‘i’m seeing more outrage over an actual youngster being a NOMINEE than the facts there’s seasoned pros and 24 year olds in this award.’
‘They have to change how this award works’, one fan wrote, adding: ‘It’s got to be about players who clocked their first ever 20+ game season in the PL or something.’
Others have suggested it could be changed to a ‘rookie’ season award, to honour those who have made the most impact in their first campaign, or to suggest that previous young winners should be barred from future nomination.
The Premier League’s version of the award was introduced in 2019-20, and the inaugural winner was Liverpool’s Trent Alexander-Arnold.
Foden achieved his double success in the years that followed, before Haaland lifted the Young Player award last season, alongside the Premier League’s senior Player of the Season prize.
Among the other nominees, Palmer is the second-highest scorer in the division with 21 goals, while Mainoo has forced his way into the England squad after starring for the Red Devils.
Cole Palmer has enjoyed a remarkable debut campaign at Chelsea following his move
Manchester United starlet Kobbie Mainoo has forced his way into the England squad
Isak scored his 20th goal of the Premier League season in last weekend’s 4-1 win over Burnley, while Udogie has enjoyed a brilliant campaign for Spurs, and a crucial cog in Ange Postecoglou’s attacking approach.
The overall winner of this year’s Young Player of the Season will be announced on May 18, ahead of the final day of the Premier League campaign the following day.
