Jose: Hazard a sure thing for Player of the Year

JOHN TERRY posted his picks for PFA Player of the Year (Philippe Coutinho) and Young Player of the Year (Harry Kane) on Instagram yesterday. His team of the year was: D De Gea; R Bertrand, J Fonte, L Koscielny, N Clyne; P Coutinho, R Sterling, J Mata, S Mane; H Kane, S Aguero.

JOSE MOURINHO insists Eden Hazard is in a one-horse race to scoop the player of the season award. The Chelsea forward has been outstanding this season and will be a leading contender to claim both the PFA and Football Writers’ awards next month. The Belgian will face stiff competition, namely from Tottenham’s Harry Kane, but Mourinho claims anyone who tips a player other than Hazard is merely making mischief. ‘It shouldn’t even be a debate,’ said Mourinho. ‘If somebody throws other names on the table, it’s because he wants to sell papers, get more clicks or throw some sand into people’s eyes, because this player is by far the best player in the season.’ Hazard is likely to feature at Queens Park Rangers tomorrow as the Blues look to take another step towards the title but Diego Costa will miss four weeks after aggravating a hamstring injury against Burnley last weekend. It means the striker will miss clashes with Manchester United and Arsenal. Mourinho is prepared to risk the availability of Cesc Fabregas and Nemanja Matic — both one booking away from a two-match ban — for the matches against Chelsea’s rivals, saying: ‘We try not to get a yellow card during the match, to play football. We know (the risks), but the game is a three-point game. ‘We need points. We need victories. We cannot choose matches. ‘I don’t think it makes any sense to think about some matches and not about others. We have to play with our maximum power to try and get the points. ‘For sure Diego will play again this season.’