Ryan Giggs has not been one of the best six players in the Premier League this season

So why is he nominated for PFA Player of the Year?

Ryan Giggs is a wonderful football player. He is still a joy to watch and he still has a part to play for Manchester United: an old head who has been there and done that as United seek to make history this season. But has he really been the best player in the league this season?

I would suggest not. I’m not criticising Giggs’ form – it has been very good – but has he performed as well and as regularly as someone like Frank Lampard? The Chelsea midfielder has played more games, scored more goals and, in my opinion, generally played at a much higher level than Giggs this season. And yet he misses out on the six-man shortlist.

There are of course the much talked about ‘sentimental’ reasons for Giggs’ inclusion. But this is the Player of the Year award, not a Lifetime Achievement Award. It would be a joke if he won because there is no way he has been the best player in the league this season.

Giggs is a credit to himself and Manchester United to still be playing as well as he does in the position he does at 35 and deserves many plaudits. Just not this one.