Dele Alli the favourite as PFA Young Player of the Year shortlist is revealed
A pair of Tottenham and Everton players made Wednesday's six-nominee shortlist for the PFA Young Player of the Year award for the 2015-16 Premier League season.
Spurs striker Harry Kane and midfielder Dele Alli, and Everton's attacking duo of Ross Barkley and Romelu Lukaku received nods, as did Liverpool midfielder Philippe Coutinho and Stoke City goalkeeper Jack Butland.
Kane, 22, is currently the Premier League's top scorer, matching his age on the scoresheet with 22 goals. His teammate Alli has been a creative force for Spurs, with the newly minted 20-year-old England international notching eight goals and nine assists, rising from relative obscurity to develop into one of the nation's most exciting midfielders.
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The two have combined to propel Spurs to a second-place spot, seven points behind league leader Leicester City with five games remaining in the season. Though others on Mauricio Pochettino's side have stood out - namely Toby Alderweireld, Eric Dier, and Mousa Dembele - the two nominated youngsters have been the catalyst for what has been a momentous season at White Hart Lane.
Everton's duo has been just as effective on the stat sheet, but not quite as successful in the league table; the Toffees sit 14th with seven remaining fixtures. That, however, has much more to do with the side's defensive ineptitude - something the two attack-minded stars have little control over. Up front, they have been shining lights at Goodison Park in an otherwise dreadful season. Lukaku, 22, has 18 goals and six assists to his name, while teammate Barkley, the same age as his hulking Belgian counterpart, has eight goals and seven assists on the campaign.
It's no surprise that the former is being heavily touted for a big-money move this summer.
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Liverpool's Coutinho is the oldest nominee at 23 years of age - turning 24 later this year - and the Brazilian magician has been a firecracker for new manager Jurgen Klopp, recording seven goals and five assists for the Reds.
There have been concerns over his inconsistency this season - one of the main gripes, along with his shot selection, throughout the diminutive playmaker's career - but when on form, there is no denying Coutinho is one of the Premier League's most exciting talents.
Stoke shot-stopper Butland, meanwhile, gets the nod on the back of a wildly impressive campaign that was unfortunately cut short due to injury. The 23-year-old, who earned a spot behind Joe Hart on England's squad, was entrenched as the backup heading into Euro 2016 before fracturing his ankle in a friendly.