Steven Gerrard can scupper Manchester United award hopes

Steven Gerrard is the only non-Manchester United player among the six nominees for the PFA player of the year award, it was announced today.

As voting took place before United's recent loss of form the Quintuple-chasing side have Ryan Giggs, who has never won the honour, Rio Ferdinand, Edwin van der Sar, Cristiano Ronaldo and Nemanja Vidic on the shortlist. Liverpool skipper Gerrard will hope to benefit from a split vote for United players as David Ginola did during the 1999 Treble‑winning season.

The Old Trafford side also have two contenders for young player of the year in Jonny Evans and Rafael Da Silva as do Aston Villa with Gabriel Agbonlahor and Ashley Young. Manchester City's Stephen Ireland is also on the young player shortlist along with London's sole representative, Tottenham's Aaron Lennon.

The winners will be announced at a dinner at Grosvenor House a week on Sunday.

United, meanwhile, will have Ferdinand back in the squad for tomorrow's Champions League quarter-final away to Porto.

The England centre-half has been sidelined since injuring his groin against Ukraine two weeks ago.