Alan Shearer has claimed that Crystal Palace defender Aaron Wan-Bissaka should not just be on the shortlist for the PFA young player of the year award - he should win it.
Wan-Bissaka was a surprise omission from the shortlist for the award after starring for Crystal Palace this season, impressing in the Premier League and attracting attention from clubs such as Manchester United and Borussia Dortmund.
And Shearer has hailed the development of the 21-year-old, who has established himself as the first choice right-back in Roy Hodgson's side and made 36 appearances in all competitions this season, having only made his professional debut in February 2018.
“I think his improvement has been incredible," Shearer said, speaking on BBC programme The Premier League Show.
“I think that the pressure a young player is under is hard enough anyway, but to go into a team and stand out when, for a lot of this season he has been playing in a relegation battle; when you put all of that together, for him to be the standout player in that team, and what they have had to go through, and for him to keep getting better and better, and offer so much to that team, I think he deserves it. I think he has been absolutely magnificent.”
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Palace fans were not the only ones left bemused by Wan-Bissaka's absence from the shortlist, with some rival supporters also claiming that he should have been in the team of the year ahead of Liverpool's Trent Alexander-Arnold.
However, Match of the Day host Gary Lineker said he felt Alexander-Arnold was worthy of his place in the side, and that in his opinion, the Liverpool star should win the young player of the year award.
“I think he is a better footballer and he is certainly a full-back I would love to play with," he said.
"In the modern era, the full-back has to be very good going forward and I think he is very special.
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“His passing range is as good as any midfield player – and I think he is the most exciting young player we have got around. Of all the exciting young talent we have got, I will be surprised if anyone ends up better than him."
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