Phil Foden and Cole Palmer lead Premier League young player of the year nominees

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Manchester City star Phil Foden and Chelsea talisman Cole Palmer lead the Premier League young player of the year nominees.

Announced on Thursday morning, the two attacking midfielders are joined by six others in a competitive field. Foden’s City team-mate Erling Haaland is looking to retain the award he won last season – when he also picked up the main honour – and is joined by Manchester United’s Kobbie Mainoo.

Arsenal pair Bukayo Saka and William Saliba are strong contenders and fellow north London star Destiny Udogie represents Tottenham on the list after an impressive first season in the Premier League. Newcastle striker Alexander Isak completes the eight nominees.

Palmer, 22, has been recognised for a sensational debut season in which he has contributed 21 league goals and nine assists following a summer switch from City. Palmer won Chelsea’s two Player of Year Awards, voted for by team-mates and fans, at a ceremony at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday night.

Foden has also been strongly tipped to win the main player of the year award after a remarkable season which looks likely to finish with City’s fourth consecutive Premier League trophy.

Saka and Saliba have been key to another title challenge from Arsenal, while Mainoo has enjoyed a remarkable rise to prominence in an otherwise turgid season at United. Isak’s form for Newcastle has kept them in the race for European football amid a spate of injuries to the squad.

The eight nominees all qualify as they were 23 or younger at the start of the season. The winner will be decided by combining a public vote, which ends on May 13, and decisions by a panel of football experts, who will reveal the winner on Saturday, May 18.

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