Kevin De Bruyne, Jen Beattie, Lukas Nmecha and Ellie Roebuck have all been shortlisted for the 2018 edition, following impressive 2017/18 campaigns.
De Bruyne, who played a pivotal role in City’s remarkable, record-smashing, double-winning season, has been named in the Premier League Player of the Year category.
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The Belgian made 31 league appearances, scoring eight goals and providing 16 assists. He scooped the inaugural Playmaker of the Year award with a last-gasp assist for Gabriel Jesus on the final day at Southampton, handing the Champions an unprecedented 100 points.
Scotland international and Women’s Player of the Year nominee Beattie was a stalwart in Nick Cushing’s side, clocking up a joint-best 36 appearances in the 2017/18 campaign – including all 18 league games, as City clinched another top two finish to secure Champions League football for a third consecutive year.
The Blues also reached the Continental Tyres Cup final, European semi-final and FA Cup semi-final, with Beattie netting five goals from centre defence in the process.
Youngster Nmecha – nominated for the men’s Rising Star gong – capped a superb year with a breakthrough into the senior squad. Having starred for the Elite Development Squad, the striker earned a promotion to the first-team and made his competitive debut in the Carabao Cup clash with Leicester, in which he confidently despatched his spot-kick in the penalty shoot-out triumph.
His Premier League debut would follow in April, as City defeated West Ham and he would feature again in the penultimate game of the season against Brighton. The forward also shone on the international stage, helping England’s Under-19s to European Championship glory with winning goals in both the semi-final and final.
Goalkeeper Roebuck – also a Rising Star nominee – enjoyed a progressive year, making the step up into the senior squad in England shot-stopper Karen Bardsley’s absence. The youngster was thrown into action in a top-of-the-table clash at Chelsea and produced a sensational performance to preserve a precious point.
In total, Roebuck tallied 21 appearances, including a Champions League debut, and played her part in securing a European spot, as the Blues finished a point above third-placed Arsenal. This summer, she was a member of the Lionesses’ Under-20 squad which claimed a bronze medal at the World Cup.
Voting for the Northwest Football Awards is now open and closes on Friday 12 October.
Vote for Kevin, Jen, Lukas and Ellie now!
Good luck to our nominees!
