Double snub for Arsenal's Vieira

Arsenal's Patrick Vieira has been snubbed in the two major polls for Footballer of the Year.

The French international did not even make the shortlist for the vote by his fellow professionals and was a distant third behind David Beckham and winner Teddy Sheringham in the prestigious football writers' poll.

Vieira, regarded by his supporters as the season's most influential player, was ignored by the Professional Footballers' Association, whose six-man shortlist is Roy Keane, Vieira's French team-mate Thierry Henry, Ryan Giggs, Emile Heskey, Sheringham and Marcus Stewart.

Sheringham is likely to win that award as well and Liverpool's Steven Gerrard is favourite for the young player honour, although West Ham's Joe Cole has also been nominated.

Former Spurs striker Sheringham today became the first English player to top the football writers' poll since Alan Shearer won the accolade in 1994.

He said: "It's an honour to receive this award bearing in mind the illustrious names who have won it. Although I'm very down and disappointed at the moment after going out of Europe on Wednesday night, this is a very special personal highlight in my career."

His manager Sir Alex Ferguson added: "It's a fitting tribute to a player who has contributed so much this season."

Meanwhile, Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger, who recently argued that Vieira should be Footballer of the Year, said today the Frenchman will stay at High-bury despite making criticisms of the club to Standard Sport this week.