Rio Ferdinand thinks fellow Manchester United centre-back Nemanja Vidic can win the PFA Player of the Year award.

The Serb, 27, was an ever-present during a run of 14 consecutive league clean sheets earlier this season.

Ferdinand told BBC Radio Manchester: "He'll definitely be in the running for Player of the Year.

"He's probably been our most consistent player, with Ryan Giggs and Edwin van der Sar. Those three have been stand-out. He's a top player."

Fellow Red Devils star Cristiano Ronaldo has won the award for the last two years.

Only one defender, Chelsea's John Terry, has been named Player of the Year in 15 years.

"Attacking players normally get the awards and the accolades," said Ferdinand.

"JT won it a couple of years ago but not many centre-halves have won it so it would be nice."

- BBC Sport

In Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson's infamous words, "squeaky-bum time" is just round the corner as we head into the business end of the season and, as such, the nominations for the more notable individual awards of the campaign are about to be aired.

Veteran versatile midfielder Ryan Giggs, who himself has proven to be a valuable commodity to his club's challenge on multiple fronts this campaign, has hailed the performances of Liverpool's midfielders Xabi Alonso and Steven Gerrard. He is set to opt for one of the Reds stars as his choice for the PFA Player of the Year award.

"Gerrard and Alonso have been terrific this season," Giggs explained to the latest edition of the United Review.

"Frank Lampard has had another good season as well so there are a lot of players who have done really well."

Xabi Alonso has been instrumental in the middle of the park for the Merseyside outfit, who are still harboring hopes of beating north west rivals United to the Premier League crown.
Talismanic captain Gerrard, on the other hand, has featured more as a second striker this season. He has built upon his formidable and fluent understanding with Spanish hotshot Fernando Torres at the head of Liverpool's attack.

Giggs, despite only starting nine out of United's 29 league matches to date, remains a forerunning candidate for the award.

- Goal.com