Bale scoops player of the year award
TOTTENHAM winger Gareth Bale beat off competition from his more experienced peers to scoop the PFA Player of the Year prize at last night’s awards dinner.
Teenage Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere ensured a north London clean sweep by landing the Young Player of the Year honour.
Bale, 21, pipped Wilshere’s team-mate Samir Nasri and Manchester City striker Carlos Tevez into second and third in the vote by fellow players.
“I am more than delighted,” he said. “It is a massive award and it is a great honour to receive, especially from other professionals. It is a honour when you look at the names that have won it before and it just makes you go ‘wow’.”
The Welshman became one of Europe’s hottest properties when he dazzled in two matches against Inter Milan during the Champions League group stage. He has scored 12 goals this season but none since January as injuries have made his appearances more sporadic in the second half of the campaign.
Wilshere, meanwhile, has become a first-team regular and forced his way into the England team in a breakthrough season for the 19-year-old.
“It is my first full season and it is a massive award,” said Wilshere. “I am very proud to be the fifth recipient from Arsenal, it is good to keep this history going.”