Beneteke in PFA Young Player shortlist

Belgian goal machine Christian Benteke has been short-listed for the PFA Young Player of the Year. The unstoppable force snapped up from Genk has fired home 19 goals in his debut season for Aston Villa.

The Holte End favourite is on course  to break an Aston Villa goal-scoring record this season, as he looks to become the first player to score 20 league goals in an Aston Villa shirt since the glory days of Peter Withe.

The Beast of B6 is up against Gareth Bale, Jack Wilshire, Romelu Lukaku, Danny Welbeck and Eden Hazard for the award.

God third in all-time PFA Poll

Paul McGrath has finished third in the poll to find the most popular ever winner of the PFA Player of the Year award, with Liverpool skipper Steven Gerrard topping the poll in the end.

McGrath, winner of the PFA Player of the Year award in 1993, finished in third place in the poll behind double PFA winner Thierry Henry and Steven Gerrard, who plays for Liverpool and runs about the pitch disappointingly for England.

Sky Sports' PFA 40 Years poll - final eight:

1. Steven Gerrard (2006 winner)

2. Terry Henry (2003 and 2004)

3. Paul McGrath (1993)

4. Norman Hunter (1974)

5. Dennis Bergkamp (1998)

6. Kenny Dalglish (1983)

7. Gary Lineker (1986)

8. Kevin Keegan (1982)

Fantasy Villa Team No.1: The PFA Team of the Year criteria

In the first of an occasional series, we pick fantasy Villa teams using players from times gone by.

This first one virtually picks itself as our criteria was that players had to have featured in a PFA Team of the Year. We were genuinely struggling to get a full team here, hence the five at the back, but as both John Gidman and Alan Wright were quite happy bombing forward it might sort of work.

Hard done by here is right back Kenny Swain who doesn't make our team despite that the fact he appeared in PFA Teams twice. He was trumped by John Gidman who appeared an impressive three times.

The team also boasts two Andy Grays.