PFA AWARDS VOTE LENGTHENED

VOTING for the PFA Player of the Year award will be based on performances over the whole campaign for the first time this season, with the players’ union opting to keep the polls open until the end of July.

The PFA have been widely criticised in the past for stopping voting at the start of April before the season has reached its climax, but the ballot will stay open for much of the summer this year as the awards ceremony has been pushed back to August 29.

Mo Salah and Sam Kerr won the main awards last season, and the later date will allow the Chelsea striker to attend after playing in the Women’s World Cup for Australia.