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Rooney heads list for PFA Player of the Year award

Wayne Rooney has been nominated for the PFA Player and Young Player of the Year awards © Getty Images

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Wayne Rooney, Didier Drogba, Cesc Fabregas and Carlos Tevez will contest the PFA Player of the Year award for 2010 after the leading quartet were named on the shortlist for the prestigious prize on Thursday.

Also in contention for the Young Player of the Year award are Manchester United striker Rooney, who took home the trophy in 2005 and 2006, and Arsenal captain Fabregas, who was recognised in 2008. Birmingham 'keeper Joe Hart and Aston Villa midfielder James Milner complete the four-man shortlist for the junior award.

Rooney is viewed as the leading candidate for the Player of the Year award after scoring 34 goals in all competitions. If he does receive the gong, it would extend United's dominance in the category to four years following wins for Cristiano Ronaldo (2007, 2008) and Ryan Giggs (2009).

A new recipient of the honour is guaranteed as none of the candidates have won the award in previous years. Drogba, who made the shortlist in 2007, is nominated after scoring 32 goals in all competitions, including 25 in 28 games in the Premier League.

Fabregas, who will miss the remainder of the season due to injury, is up for both awards after a hugely impressive season in the Arsenal midfield that has yielded 15 goals and 13 assists in the Premier League alone.

Completing the shortlist for the senior award is Manchester City star Tevez, who has scored 28 goals in all competitions following his move from Manchester United over the summer and comes face-to-face with his rival Rooney in Saturday's Manchester derby.

In the young player category, Hart, who is a contender for a World Cup spot, has been shortlisted after enjoying an impressive season for Birmingham City, whom he joined on loan from Manchester City at the start of the campaign.

Aston Villa have seen Ashley Young and Gabriel Agbonlahor shortlisted in the past two seasons, but this year the honour falls to Milner, who has proved influential in a central role and looks certain to travel to the World Cup finals with England.

PFA Player of the Year shortlist: Carlos Tevez (Manchester City) Cesc Fabregas (Arsenal) Didier Drogba (Chelsea) Wayne Rooney (Manchester United)

PFA Young Player of the Year shortlist: Cesc Fabregas (Arsenal) James Milner (Aston Villa) Joe Hart (Birmingham City) Wayne Rooney (Manchester United)

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