TH, who has already been installed as the bookies favourite to win the award, is one of five strikers nominated with Paul Scholes the only midfielder on a list which also includes Ruud Van Nistelrooy, Alan Shearer, James Beattie and Gianfranco Zola.

Vieira's omission is surprising given the fact that he has been in such fine form this season, but he isn't the only player with a right to be peeved at failing to make the list, goalkeepers Brad Friedel and Carlo Cudicini surely deserved a mention, and where are the defenders?

Still we shouldn't be surprised that the list is so striker dominated, seven of the last nine awards have gone to frontmen, and the last goalkeeper to take the award was Peter Shilton in 1978!

At least the shortlist for the Young Player Award contains one defender (John O'Shea) and two midfielders (Jermaine Jenas and Scott Parker), but it looks inevitable that Wayne Rooney will win that award.

For a full list of the nominations check out the PFA's own site here