Who are the three leading contenders for Manchester United’s player of the year award?

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All in all, from a Manchester United perspective, you would have to admit that Jose Mourinho’s first season at Old Trafford has been a success up to this point ahead of the last ten league fixtures.

With a piece of silverware already in the bag courtesy of the dramatic EFL Cup victory over Southampton, a Europa League quarter-final to play and a very good chance of finishing inside the Premier League top-four, it seems that the pre-season objectives may just be met in Manchester.

It took a while to get going under Mourinho, but since their Stamford Bridge thrashing in October United have only lost two matches – none in the Premier League – as they’ve built momentum at the right time.

But who has been at the forefront of their prolonged charge on four fronts this season?

Antonio Valencia

Perhaps one of Manchester United’s leading contenders for Player of the Season comes in the shape of South American Antonio Valencia, arguably the most consistent asset to Mourinho this campaign.

Valencia’s transformation to right-back was one of the few revelations to come out of Louis van Gaal’s reign, and he’s carried on in style under United’s new manager, making the defensive position his own by combining a new ability to stay strong in the tackle with his customary attacking flair.

With United dictating and dominating possession so many times this season, the 31-year-old has almost played exclusively as a winger – adding a different attacking option with his penetrative pace – completing 61% of his attempted take ons all season as well as contributing three assists.

His attacking prowess can be proven again by the fact that he’s created 29 chances, more than Ander Herrera, Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Jesse Lingard, playing a key role in United’s trophy charge.

The Ecuadorian has displayed a passion for the club too, epitomising the grit and determination that Mourinho loves from his teams, a characteristic that’s endeared himself to Manchester United fans and arguably a characteristic that earnt him a deserved contract extension until the end of the next season.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic

There were people wondering pre-season whether Zlatan Ibrahimovic would be able to compete in the Premier League at 35-years-old, but the big man has silenced the doubters in emphatic fashion.

15 goals in 25 league appearances and nine goals in five Europa League matches speaks for itself, with Ibrahimovic arriving on to the scene and raising the morale of a United dressing room that has, for the last few years now, not had an awful lot to write home about under their two previous managers.

One of the most telling statistics from the season is that, without the big Swede leading the line, United would be 8^th in the Premier League – seven points worse off than they are at the moment.

It’s not just his innate ability to be in the right position to find the back of the net, but his demeanour lends him to the English style of football; his experience at the top-level has shown, rubbing off on the United youngsters, whilst his infamous bravado has been clear for all to see all season.

With his arrival at Manchester United last summer only on the principle of a year’s deal, United fans will be pleading that Jose Mourinho pulls his finger out and snaps up the Swede for another season.

Ander Herrera

One of United’s most under-rated players this season, Ander Herrera has shown his exceptional ability in the middle of the park to become an integral part of Mourinho’s first-team this campaign.

After struggling for a place in the starting line-up last year, Herrera has stepped up to the mark and been exemplary for United, giving composure and calmness to the Manchester United midfield alongside the old-hat of Michael Carrick; a duo that have really built up chemistry over the past year.

Up until this point of the season the Spaniard has an exceptionally high pass accuracy of 88%, keeping the play ticking over nicely as his side look to exploit a gap in the opposition defence, as well as lending himself well off the ball; Herrera has made 67 interceptions and 51 tackles in 22 appearances, both higher numbers than Chelsea’s N’Golo Kante in the Premier League.

Much like his international teammate Juan Mata, Herrera is capable of finding the seemingly impossible pass, and is patient in his build-up play – he won’t try and force the issue.

Yet the issue with his discipline is still something that needs to be worked on, as had he not been dismissed during the FA Cup quarter-final at Stamford Bridge then United may have been in with far more of a chance of progressing to the semi-finals at Wembley, still on course for three trophies.

This will come with maturity though, and with more time spent under the management of Mourinho Herrera could become a more than adequate long-term replacement for Carrick once he calls it a day.

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