English Premier League: Who Deserves to Be the PFA Player of the Year?

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Described by Teddy Sheringham as "the biggest personal award you can get in the game", and by John Terry as "the ultimate accolade to be voted for by your fellow professionals whom you play against week-in and week-out", the PFA award is certainly one of the most prestigious awards a professional footballer can claim.

Although we are still a few months away from April, when the The Professional Footballers' Association Players' Player of the Year is awarded, there are a few standout names already.

Last year Tottenham Hotspur's Gareth Bale took home the award. Who will it be this year? Leave your opinions.

5. Joe Hart

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To call Joe Hart anything less than sensational is a gross understatement. Hart has been superb for Manchester City all year long, and his consistency is unrivaled.

His shot stopping is unmatched and he has single-handedly won numerous matches for City with his great goal keeping. Couple all that with acrobatic saves and great positional awareness, and you have a strong contender for the prize.

4. Juan Mata

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Juan Mata has breathed new life into Chelsea. Ever since joining Chelsea, he has proved himself to be a key squad member.

Mata has been a great influence for the team, creating numerous goals and also scoring key ones.

However, he only came to England in August, and this will definitely hurt his chances.

3. David Silva

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How Spain produces such charismatic midfielders, I will never know. From Xavi and Iniesta to Cesc Fabregas, and now the likes of Juan Mata and David Silva. About the former, we have already mentioned; however, it's the latter that deserves even more plaudits.

In David Silva, Manchester City have perhaps the best playmaker in the EPL. He has led City to countless wins by dictating the style of play and has scored a plethora of assists and also a handful of goals.

He has a great ability to create space which renders him almost unstoppable, and despite his size has succeeded quite well in the Premier League.

After having a difficult time settling to the pace of the premier league, Silva has adapted superbly well and has been a talismanic figure at Manchester City and has proved instrumental in City's rapid rise to success.

2. Robin Van Persie

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One'd have to be a fool to not recognize the immense talent of Robin Van Persie. He is the single reason that Arsenal can still be considered a top club.

RVP is in the prime of his career, and he is perhaps the only one still producing magical moments for Arsenal.

The year 2011 has been nothing short of phenomenal for the Arsenal captain; he nearly beat Alan Shearer's record for the most goals in a calendar year, and surpassed club legend Thierry Henry's record for most goals in a calendar year.

This season he has already scored 19 goals while also providing five assists.

Nothing less than legendary!

1. Scott Parker

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Scott Parker is to the Spurs squad what Claude Makalele was to the Real Madrid/Chelsea squad.

If you follow the matches of Tottenham, you will realize one thing—the level of praise bestowed upon one Scott Parker.

Every commentator, every sports analyst knows this: Scott Parker is the backbone of the Spurs squad. Ever since he signed from West Ham for a diminutive sum of £5 million, he has been instrumental in the great run of form enjoyed by Tottenham.

He was the Football Writer Associations' Player of the Season last year, and I can see him winning the PFA award this season.