John Stones has explained why he voted for Tottenham's Son Heung-min to be the PFA Player of the Year.
Virgil Van Dijk picked up the award on Sunday after an outstanding season that has seen him command the meanest defence in the Premier League with two games to go and also impress on the road to the Champions League semi-finals.
However, while the Liverpool defender was the popular choice he was pipped when City star Stones came to cast his vote as he opted for Son.
"I'm a big fan of Son, he's gone under the radar a bit. I voted for him," he said. "Just his performances, take nothing away from Virgil, he's been outstanding. But I like to go for someone who is a bit under the radar and someone who excites me and I like to watch play."
Stones won't have enjoyed watching Son play in the three recent meetings between Tottenham and City. The 26-year-old scored three goals in the Champions League tie to knock the Blues out, before giving Stones the runaround in the league game that immediately followed the second leg.
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Sergio Aguero, Raheem Sterling, and Bernardo Silva all made the six-man shortlist for the PFA Player of the Year, and Stones was asked to pick from his teammates.
"I'd probably say Raheem - or Bernardo," he said. "How Raheem has handled himself this season, he has overcome a lot of things - some non-football related. That's been something, how he has stood up for his beliefs and still gone out and performed the way he has.
"That's admirable for me - as a friend - but i also admire him for going out and scoring the goals he has."
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