Riyad Mahrez named PFA Player of the Year

 

Leicester City’s Riyad Mahrez has been named the Professional Footballers’ Association Player of the Year and becomes the first African footballer to win the accolade.

The Algerian international has been involved in a league-high 28 goals this season for the Foxes, with 17 goals and 11 assists to his name.

Mahrez has beaten team mates Jamie Vardy and N’Golo Kante to the award, as well as Harry Kane, Mesut Ozil and Dimitri Payet.

The artful winger has been on fire for Leicester in the Premier League this season and has played a huge part in guiding the Foxes to the top of the table.

Alongside comrades Kante, Vardy and Wes Morgan, Mahrez had already been named in the Team of the Year and his efforts looked almost certain to earn him the individual award.

In a season of many highs for Leicester, Vardy and Kante were unfortunate to be outshone by Mahrez as they have contributed a great deal to the Foxes’ title charge.

It was difficult to look beyond the Algerian magician however; his goals and assists have already bettered last year’s winner Eden Hazard.

There have been numerous highlights for Mahrez as he has proved to be joyous to watch throughout the Premier League campaign.

His hat-trick at the Liberty Stadium will go down as one of his strongest performances in a Leicester shirt, but the wonder goals against Chelsea, Manchester City and Watford really helped to boost the Foxes’ title push.

Mahrez is renowned for his tricky feet and he has been a constant nuisance for Premier League defences; one turn leaving three Aston Villa players on the floor and his flip-flap nutmeg on Philipp Wollscheid will live long in the memory of the Leicester City fans.

There is no doubt Mahrez deserved the award and he will be hoping his season ends on a high with a Premier League winners medal around his neck.

Tottenham Hotspur’s Dele Alli was also crowned Young Player of the Year, capping a great first season in the top flight for the English prodigy.