Sunday 24 April 2016 07:21, UK
The nominees for the 2016 PFA Players' Player of the Year awards were announced in the week.
There is still plenty to play for as this enthralling Premier League season draws to its climax, including the race for individual honours.
Here, ahead of the ceremony on Sunday evening, we look at the six nominees shortlisted for the most prestigious individual accolade in English football...
Harry Kane - Tottenham Hotspur
Having secured the 2015 PFA Young Player of the Year award for his stellar breakthrough season at Spurs, many doubted whether Kane could continue his rich vein of goalscoring form. However, after failing to score in his first six league outings, the England striker silenced his critics, hitting the net on 24 occasions - more than any other Spurs player has been able to do in the Premier League era.
As a result, the 22-year-old's goals have been the focal point of Tottenham's assault on a first top-flight crown since 1961. Kane's England team-mate Jamie Vardy and Man City's Sergio Aguero are the only other player to have scored at least 20 goals in the league this season, while no other top-flight player has scored more braces than Kane (6) this season.
N'Golo Kante - Leicester City
Few will have predicted the impact Kante would have at Leicester following his £5.6m summer transfer from Caen. An unsung hero for the majority of the season, the Frenchman's dynamic displays in the heart of Claudio Ranieri's title-chasing team have seen him earn praise and plaudits at club and international level.
And when you look at some of the stats from his stellar season, it's easy to see why. Kante has made more interceptions and more tackles than any other player in the top five European leagues this season. What's more, he has made 33 appearances in the Premier League this season - only four midfielders league-wide have made more.
Riyad Mahrez - Leicester City
Riyad Mahrez's sensational season has helped propel Leicester to within touching distance of the Premier League title. He has underscored his value to the Foxes week after week, with the Algerian scoring the winning goal in a Premier League game more often than anyone in 2015/16 (7).
No other midfielder in the top five European leagues can better Mahrez's tally of 16 league goals this season. His lethal partnership with Vardy has tormented defences up and down the land, with the pair responsible for the most goal involvements in the Premier League so far this season, with 28.
Mesut Ozil - Arsenal
If Arsenal are to end their 12-season wait for the Premier League title then Mesut Ozil will no doubt have played a key role. In terms of creativity, the Gunners midfielder is unrivalled. The German's scintillating form has seen him register 18 assists in the Premier League this season, seven clear of Manchester City's David Silva in second place.
Ozil has created a league-high 123 chances for his team this term - Spurs' Christian Eriksen is the only other player to have reached three figures (102). And his form has seen him top the charts on the continent, with Ozil also leading the top five European leagues for chances created this season - Montpellier's Ryad Boudebouz is the closest to him with 103.
Dimitri Payet - West Ham
Dimitri Payet's seamless transition to life in the Premier League has seen him emerge as one of the signings of the summer. The Frenchman has provided flair and flamboyance in equal measure as the Hammers look to end their final season at the Boleyn Ground with a flourish. Payet has been directly involved in 23 goals in all competitions this season, 13 more than any of his West Ham team-mates.
In recent weeks, it has been his ability with a dead ball which has really caught the eye, both in the Premier League and on the international stage. No other player in England's top flight has scored more free-kick goals than Payet this season (2). Furthermore, only Manchester City striker Sergio Aguero (4) has scored more goals from outside the box than Payet this season (3).
Jamie Vardy - Leicester City
Jamie Vardy's remarkable rise from non-league football has been one of the stories of the season. Having played a key role in Leicester's survival bid last season, the 29-year-old's tireless displays have typified Leicester's season as they stand within reach of the title.
The striker is the first Foxes player to score 20+ goals in a top-flight season since Gary Lineker in 1984/85. And his form bodes well for England at the forthcoming European Championship in France, with he and Kane becoming the first English players since Wayne Rooney, Darren Bent and Frank Lampard (2009/10) to score 20+ goals in a Premier League season.
No other player in the top flight has scored more goals inside the box than Vardy this season (20) and he also broke Ruud van Nistelrooy's record for goals in consecutive Premier League games (11).
