The two Manchester United players who received FWA Footballer of the Year votes

It might have been a disappointing season for Manchester United but that didn’t stop two of their players receiving votes for a prestigious award.

Man City star Phil Foden was the clear winner in the Football Writers' Association Footballer of the Year with an enormous 42 per cent of the overall vote, with Arsenal talisman Declan Rice finishing in second place.

There would have been few arguments had any of the top six won the award, with Rodri, Martin Odegaard, Ollie Watkins and Cole Palmer also in contention to pick up the illustrious title.

As well as the leading candidates, there were a few surprise names on the list, including two who play for United. Bruno Fernandes and Diogo Dalot both received votes suggesting they had been the very best player in the Premier League this season, while Luton Town star Ross Barkley was also nominated, as well as Aston Villa ace John McGinn.

From a United perspective, Portuguese duo Fernandes and Dalot have certainly been their two standout players across the campaign, but it is preposterous to suggest either of them have been the very best in the English top-flight this season. The duo will be two of the leading candidates when it comes to the club’s own Sir Matt Busby Player of the Season award.

The other players to complete the 18-man list of those who received votes were Virgil Van Dijk, Mohamed Salah, Bukayo Saka, Bruno Guimaraes, Bernardo Silva, John McGinn, Alexis Mac Allister, Son Heung Min, Jarrod Bowen.