EPL Preview: Ranking the Favorites for Player of the Year

With the first week of English Premier League fixtures completed, the discussion is already raging over who the best new signing is, who is continuing last season's excellent form and who is falling below expectations.

This year has seen some excellent individual and team performances, and with English domestic football having now returned, here is a look at the favorites to end calender year 2011 as the league's Player of the Year.

Don't forget to weigh in with your comments below and share who you believe are the favorites to win the award this year.

10: Petr Cech, Chelsea

Since the unfortunate head injury received by Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech in 2006, he seemed to be struggling to recapture the sensational performances he had put in for Chelsea during the reign of former manager Jose Mourinho.

During that early period at Chelsea, few could argue that Cech was one of the finest shot-stoppers in the world. But following his return from the near career-ending injury, he didn't quite seem the same goalkeeper anymore.

It wasn't that he wasn't good enough anymore. He just wasn't putting in the performances that many football supporters knew he was capable of, and some questioned if he'd ever be able to again.

This past season, however—and especially in the title-deciding run-up in 2011—Cech was in excellent form, being named Chelsea's Player of the Year at the end of it.

Well deserved for a player who is definitely coming back into form and whose performances will again be vital for Chelsea as they hope to regain the Premier League title.

9: Carlos Tevez, Manchester City

A bit unfortunate to not be higher up the list, Manchester City's Carlos Tevez has so far enjoyed an inspired 2011, ending up as the joint-Golden Boot winner along with Manchester United's Dimitar Berbatov last campaign.

Injuries towards the end of last season limited his playing time and, realistically, are the reason he wasn't able to completely knock Berbatov off the top of the scoring charts. Despite that, however, his impact was certainly felt when he was passed fit for the crucial 2011 FA Cup final and City's first major silverware in 35 years.

He's also not higher up the list because no one—including, seemingly, the striker himself—is quite sure where his future lay anymore. Linked with other Premier League clubs and plenty of sides abroad, even if Tevez stays at City, he will have significant competition for a starting berth this season.

8: Jack Wilshere, Arsenal

At only 19 years old, Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere is the youngest player to make this list. But on the back of his outstanding performances for the London club last season, it's hardly a surprise.

Say that last summer, however, and it would have been different. Few could have guessed the midfielder would be named in the 2010-2011 PFA Team of the Year.

Arsenal's fate this season may well be attached to the success of performances by Wilshere and fellow midfielder Aaron Ramsey.

Following the departure and (potential) departure of Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri, mature performances from the two will be vital if Arsenal are to remain among the challengers for the Premier League title.

7: Leighton Baines, Everton

Perhaps the most surprise inclusion of the list, Everton defender Leighton Baines is a no-nonsense player who has consistently excelled in his role in the side.

Everton—and manager David Moyes—have built their reputations on continually outperforming expectations, particularly when considering the limited funds available for playing staff.

Put simply, it's because of players like Baines that has happened.

It's no wonder why he's one of the most universally picked players in many fantasy football league teams this season, too. Consistency is what the defender has shown he is all about, and to Everton's reward.

Baines—who played every minute of the Premier League season for Everton last season—deserves to be considered for his impressive performances in 2011 if his performance level continues into this new season.

6: Luis Suarez, Liverpool

After his performances at the 2010 World Cup for Uruguay, talented striker Luis Suarez was linked with a transfer to major clubs all around the world.

In January, it was Liverpool who plumped up the £22.7 million for his services. He and fellow new signing Andy Carroll were viewed as ideal replacements for the £50 million departure of Fernando Torres to Chelsea.

And since he started playing, Suarez hasn't disappointed. He managed to find the net for the Reds only four times before the end of last season, but his dogged displays played an important role in reinvigorating a beleaguered Liverpool following their poor start in the first half of the season.

This season, Suarez is rightly being tipped to play a major role in Liverpool's push for a long-awaited Premier League title. While he missed a penalty during the opening weekend, he almost immediately corrected his mistake by scoring Liverpool's first goal of the season.

Suarez is a quality player and is playing in a side that will fashion him plenty of goalscoring opportunities.

5: Sergio Aguero, Manchester City

It seems a bit inappropriate to name a player to this list who has only played one game in the English Premier League so far this season, but such is the quality of Sergio "Kun" Aguero.

The media and football pundits alike have been falling over themselves with praise at the debut performance of Manchester City's Aguero this weekend.

He came off the bench to almost single-handedly put Swansea City to the sword with two goals and an assist.

It was, undoubtedly, the perfect glimpse of the quality of the player who Premier League sides were rumored to be chasing for years after five outstanding seasons with Spanish side Atletico Madrid.

And while the hype around the player after only one performance is over the top right now, he's a player that is going to have a fantastically important role for City this season.

It would be equally over the top to fail to recognize him as a competitor.

4: Nemanja Vidic, Manchester United

While Manchester United captain Nemanja Vidic may have seen his side defeated in the 2011 Champions League final against Barcelona, the defender's performance in that match was particularly excellent.

Despite that United seemed unable to cope with the passing nous of the Spanish side, Vidic looked a one-man defense at United's back. It was indicative of the type of "captain's performance" that the Serbian had put in all season for United.

With fellow defender Rio Ferdinand facing a number of injury issues all last season, the performances of Vidic are as important for United as ever—as is his leadership and guidance of young defensive starlets Rafael da Silva, Fabio da Silva and Jonny Evans. 

3: Luka Modric, Tottenham Hotspur

Speculation has been rife all summer that Tottenham midfielder Luka Modric will soon be joining Premier League rivals Chelsea, but the move across London has yet to materialize.

And while that speculation over his future continues, the impact of the Croatian midfielder in 2011 can't be understated. While Tottenham supporters have so far found 2011 to be an incredibly frustrating year, the performances of midfield playmaker Modric proved vital to their season (and Champions League semifinal run).

He was consistently the outstanding player in a midfield that was arguably England's best last year.

And while no one is yet sure where he'll be playing in September, it doesn't particularly matter.

He's already demonstrated how fantastic he has been in the Spurs midfield, and if Chelsea do end up signing him—which seems very likely—he'll be adding a creative touch that to the side that their midfield is sorely lacking.

2: Javier "Chicharito" Hernandez, Manchester United

It seems everything about striker Javier "Chicharito" Hernandez's year has been incredible.

Thirteen goals in 27 in one of the most competitive leagues in the world. All during his debut season, where many didn't think he'd be featuring regularly without being "bedded in" to the style of play in England.

By the end of last season, he had completely unseated top goal-scorer and Manchester United record-signing Dimitar Berbatov from the starting lineup, scoring plenty of goals in both the league and European competition.

It wasn't particularly surprising, then, that before this weekend's start to the Premier League, many bookmakers had the Mexican down as the 6/1 favorite to end the season as the league's top scorer.

Not bad for a 23-year-old from Guadalajara—and absolutely one to watch this season.

1: Nani, Manchester United

Manchester United winger Nani topped the 2010-2011 Premier League assist chart, and it's not surprising.

The Portual international was in inspired form for his club at the end of last season in particular, chipping in with a fair few goals in addition to those assists.

He played a very important role in United's title success last season, and will remain a key player to manager Sir Alex Ferguson, although the arrival of Ashley Young will increase the competition for places.

With Young, Antonio Valencia and Nani, United have width that most Premier League sides could only wish for. Expect United to chip in with plenty of goals this season, with a number of them through play from the wings.