Top Three PFA Young Player of The Year Candidates to Bet On

Liam Canning

February 4th, 2019

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• Marcus Rashford to win PFA Young Player of the Year 2018/19 – 14/1 with BetVictor

Awards are always primed for debate by football fans over who should and shouldn’t have won a certain accolade, as well as acting as a tool for a player on an individual basis to elevate his profile.

In the modern era, it feels as if the Ballon d’Or and singular trophies such as the Players’ Football Association Young Player of the Year award have become as important as the team’s success on the football pitch.

The rules for this specific award stipulate that all entries need to have been 23 years old or younger before the start of the season. Plenty have debated this and suggested a more reasonable age of 21, but the PFA have kept to their original criteria.

Here, we rank the top three betting favourites in order of who we believe should win, factoring in the best odds available.

#1 – Marcus Rashford: Manchester United

Odds: 14/1 (BetVictor)

The youngest on this list but by no means the weakest link. Marcus Rashford might have had a tentative start to the season with just three Premier League goals to his name with Jose Mourinho in charge, but he has added six more in just eight appearances.

Rashford has risen to the task under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and has been given the confidence to take more shots at goal. The Norwegian has evidently worked closely with the England international on his finishing, making sure he is composed in front of goal and has a clear image of the ball hitting the back of the net.

Having just turning 21 years old, Rashford is having an unbelievable season. In his latest Premier League appearance – which marked his 100th in the competition – he found the winning goal against Leicester City that was enough for his club to take home the three points. The Three Lions forward has a combined 16 goal contributions in 22 appearances.

Solskjaer has given Rashford the responsibility of leading the forward line for the Red Devils ahead of Romelu Lukaku, and his decision is paying dividends. Man United look a lot more fluid with the Englishman playing through the middle, which also gives the midfielders an option over the top with his blistering speed.

Remarkably, four of Rashford’s 14 winning goals for Manchester United in his short career so far have come this season. He might only be 21 but his sense of maturity and coolness on the pitch suggests that the is only going to continue to improve.

BetVictor price Rashford at 14/1 to win the PFA Young Player of the Year award.

#2 – Raheem Sterling: Manchester City

Odds: 1/12 (BetVictor)

Having been a professional footballer for six years now, Raheem Sterling is by no means a new player on the block. After excelling for Liverpool, Manchester City snapped him up to become a pillar in their new look side under Pep Guardiola.

The England international might get unfairly criticised in the wider media, but anyone with half a brain cell can understand how much of a brilliant footballer he is. Sterling has since turned 24 but is still eligible having been within age range at the beginning of the season.

Somewhat surprisingly, Sterling has never previously won this award, which seems remarkable given his impact over the last half decade for both the Reds and the Citizens.

Under the tutelage of the Catalan coach, Sterling is excelling on the pitch and showing everyone – including his doubters – that he is a world-class player that can deliver on a consistent basis.

So far this season, in the Premier League alone, Sterling has scored 10 goals and recorded nine assists, all in 21 appearances. The wide forward has been consistently spectacular for Guardiola’s side, which is why his boss appears reluctant to rotate him with his other wingers in the squad.

There is a strong argument to suggest that Sterling should win the award, which is why he is BetVictor’s favourite at 1/12.

#3 – Leroy Sane: Manchester City

Odds: 66/1 (BetVictor)

Leroy Sane might have been left out of the Germany World Cup squad last summer, but he sure hasn’t let that effect his confidence this season. Having won this award last time out, Sane has kept his foot firmly on the accelerator and is having another terrific season for the Citizens.

The German international has once again showed his prowess throughout this campaign so far, even if it is under a manager that has a habit of rotating him, which deprives him of regular match rhythm.

Even with that going against him, he only finds himself one goal contribution behind Sterling, having played 400 fewer minutes in the Premier League. With his mazy runs, soft footwork in-and-around the box and his fantastic understanding of where to be at the crucial time, it is no wonder that Guardiola continues to trust him in his team full of glittering stars.

It is uncommon for a player to win this award in consecutive years – it has only been accomplished four times in its 47-year history – and so the odds are stacked against Sane. Saying that, however, BetVictor price him as third favourite at 66/1.

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