United moved to within four points of an 18th championship success with a comfortable 2-0 win over Manchester City on Sunday, and the Reds’ game in ha

Let’s face it - there is no shortage of contenders. Among the glut of superstars at the Theatre of Dreams, cases can easily be made for PFA Player of the Year Giggsy, our record-breaking stopper Edwin Van der Sar (surely nearly 24 hours of top flight football without conceding deserves some recognition!) and Nemanja Vidic, the solid Serbian rock in the heart of our defence.

But my top dog of 2008/09 is a precocious talent whose indisputable love of the game leads me to believe he would be happy with any position on the park as long as it meant he could kick a football for 90 minutes. That man goes by the name of Wayne Rooney.

United fans love a player who embodies the battling spirit that we all know we would at least try to demonstrate, if Sir Alex ever handed us the opportunity to grace the hallowed turf of Old Trafford. A player who, when the going gets tough, is willing to run that little bit faster, jump that little bit higher and tackle that little bit harder.

But it is not just this steely determination and insatiable desire to win that makes Wayne Rooney such an impressive specimen; it is that he combines these attributes with flair, skill and outstanding vision.

This season, particularly in the latter stages, Rooney has been pushed out to the left wing in a move that has drawn accusations of ‘wasting his talent’ from outsiders. But those who regularly watch United know that Wayne is capable of taking a game by the scruff of the neck, wherever he plays.

Yes, he should perhaps score more goals and yes, I do still panic slightly when he loses the ball and the red mist appears to descend, but his ability to change the game in an instant and to drive the team from start to finish, is unquestionable.

United's player of the year award is named after Sir Matt Busby and Wayne perfectly represents the youthful exuberance and sheer excellence that so characterised Sir Matt’s sides. That’s why Wayne gets my vote.
The views expressed in this blog are personal to the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Manchester United FC.