PFA Young Player of the Year shortlist 'ridiculous' as Man Utd and Arsenal duo spark fume

Premier League supporters have been left outraged and are demanding change following a series of controversial nominations for the PFA Young Player of the Year award. The six-player shortlist has been announced, with the majority of inclusions raising significant eyebrows. Manchester City's Nico O'Reilly and Bournemouth's Junior Kroupi are widely considered the most deserving candidates on the list.

However, the nominations of Rayan Cherki, Max Dowman, Kobbie Mainoo and Rio Ngumoha have sparked a fierce backlash, with one social media user branding the selections as "ridiculous". O'Reilly remains the frontrunner for the accolade after the 21-year-old delivered a genuine coming-of-age season, netting five goals and contributing four assists across 34 appearances, at left-back but also in midfield. The England international also netted both goals in City's Carabao Cup final triumph over Arsenal.

Bournemouth's outstanding 19-year-old striker Kroupi runs O'Reilly close for the honour, having struck 13 goals in 33 league outings during his debut season in English football following his £10million arrival from Lorient. These two stand as the ideal example of what the award is meant to represent.

Both youngsters have enjoyed seasons that have thrust them into conversations not only about the finest young talents in the Premier League, but across European football as a whole.

Yet the remaining four nominees have all attracted criticism. Manchester United's Mainoo was virtually invisible during the first half of the season under Ruben Amorim, Cherki turns 23 in August and made his senior debut seven years ago. Meanwhile, Dowman and Ngumoha have barely accumulated enough minutes to justify their inclusion.

Supporters took to social media to condemn the shortlist, with one writing: "Max Dowman with SIX total appearances btw. so many other young players missed out for recency and champions biased."

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A second commented: "Max Dowman? He's barely played. No Alex Scott? Ridiculous list." A third added: "Jesus Rio barely started 6 games and Mainoo didn't get in team till 2nd half of the season!!"

Another posted: "Mainoo and Dowman r u serious they went months without playing." A fifth fumed: "Max Dowman is clearly an unbelievable prospect, but how on earth does he get anywhere near this list? He played about 2 and a half hours of Premier League football last season. Josh King robbed."

A sixth echoed: "As an Arsenal fan it's ridiculous Dowman even on the list. Talented absolutely but to be voted one of the 6 best youngest players over a 38 game season is absurd." While another laughed: "Cherki is nearly 23 ffs."

The likes of Bournemouth's Rayan, Brighton's Yankuba Minteh, and West Ham's Mateus Fernandes were also among the players who missed out on the shortlist.