Saka, Rashford, Foden, Guardiola, Solskjaer nominated for Premier League awards

ARSENAL’S England forward with Nigerian roots, Bukayo Saka, has been nominated for the Premier League Young Player of the Season award along with seven other players.

The award is open to Premier League players 23 years old or younger.

Saka, 19, will battle for the award with Manchester United forward Marcus Rashford, Manchester City’s Phil Foden and Chelsea’s Mason Mount, who is also up for the Player of the Season prize.

Manchester City defender Ruben Dias is also nominated for both awards, while Everton striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Leeds United goalkeeper Illan Meslier and West Ham midfielder Declan Rice are in the running for the young player gong.

Saka had a brilliant individual campaign despite Arsenal’s struggles, the versatile youngster excelling in a number of positions. Despite not playing all the time in his more natural wide forward role, Saka still managed to score five goals and make three assists in 32 league appearances.

Rashford shrugged off persistent injury problems to score 11 goals and make nine assists in 37 league appearances as Manchester United came second, their joint-highest finish since Sir Alex Ferguson retired in 2013.

Calvert-Lewin scored 16 goals, making him the league’s sixth highest goalscorer even as Everton finished 10th, while Meslier produced 140 saves as Leeds United finished ninth in their first season back in the top flight.

In the Manager of the Season category, five coaches are nominated.

Pep Guardiola, who led Manchester City to their third title and the Champions League final in his fifth season in charge, is nominated along with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, who guided Manchester United to second place (without an away defeat all season) and the Europa League final.

Leeds United’s Marcelo Bielsa, West Ham’s David Moyes and Brandon Rodgers of FA Cup winners Leicester City are also nominated.

Winners will be decided by fan votes, Premier League captains and a panel of experts.