ROONEY UP FOR PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Rooney is joined by Chelsea trio John Terry - last year's winner - Frank Lampard and Joe Cole, while Steven Gerrard and Thierry Henry make up the shortlist for the senior prize.

PFA chief Gordon Taylor was full of praise for our young Scouser.

"Wayne is special,"

"His development under Sir Alex Ferguson has been great to see and he has been such a key part of a United side which has won the Carling Cup and, of late, has mounted a belated challenge to Chelsea in the race for the Premiership title.

"For a young man he has got such strength and it is all allied to great skill and perception.

"He is starting to show a lot more maturity too, which I am really pleased about.

"When you think he might be wound up by opponents, he has learned to count to 10 and control that side of his temperament while maintaining his total commitment.

"All of which bodes really well for Manchester United, and particularly for England.

"If he can stay clear of injury and he continues to develop the way he has, there is no end to what he can achieve.

"We must all remember though, he is still a young man and we should not have too high expectations of him because he has got a long way to go - but he will get there if he is looked after properly."

Ronaldo also makes the shortlist for the Young Player of the year along with Darren Bent, Anton Ferdinand, Cesc Fabregas and Aaron Lennon.