'Terrific’ Phil Foden tipped for Player of the Season, Peter Crouch lauds ‘shining light’ Cole Palmer

Ally McCoist has made a strong case for Phil Foden to scoop the 2023/24 Premier League Player of the Year award, while Peter Crouch prefers the “tremendous” Martin Odegaard or surprise package Cole Palmer.

The nominations for the seasonal award were announced earlier in the week and the pair discussed their winners ahead of Manchester City’s trip to Fulham as the title race heats up, live on TNT Sports and discovery+.

Odegaard, Palmer as well as Declan Rice, Phil Foden, Erling Haaland, Alexander Isak, Ollie Watkins and Virgil van Dijk are all contenders for the Player of the Season accolade.

Rice has been influential in the Arsenal midfield following his £100 million signing from West Ham, while captain Odegaard has also played a key role as Arsenal chase their first title in 20 years.

Haaland leads the goalscoring charts once again and with the absence of Kevin De Bruyne for large parts of the season, Foden has stepped up to produce his best goalscoring campaign.

Chelsea are making a late charge for a European finish, fuelled by the excellent Palmer, while Liverpool are still mathematically in with an outside shot of the title helped by the robustness of Van Dijk in defence.

And Ollie Watkins and Alexander Isak have been prolific in front of goal, with 19 and 20 league goals respectively.

But only one player can pick up the award and TNT Sports pundit McCoist is struggling to look past Foden, who has scored 16 goals and made eight assists as City close in on a fourth consecutive title.

“I’d give it to Foden,” McCoist said. “I was saying earlier that I got a little bit of stick because one or two people say I go over the top on Foden, but I love him. 

“I think he’s a terrific player, easy on the eye. The way he has grown this season again, he’s enjoying the responsibility. It’s a tough group, it’s a pleasure to be in it, never mind winning it. 

“But if you ask me to pick one, I’d probably go for Phil Foden.”

Crouch feels Foden has a good chance of clinching the award, but feels it could go to Odegaard if the Gunners mange to life the Premier League title.

“It’s difficult because you usually go with the team that wins the Premier League,” Crouch told TNT Sports. “It looks like it could be Phil Foden but Odegaard has been absolutely tremendous.

“If you think about the singing of the season then it’s Cole Palmer,” he added. “In a really struggling team, he’s been the shining light and up there in the goalscoring charts.”

Both Mikel Arteta and Pep Guardiola have been shortlisted for the Manager of the Season award while McCoist would opt for the title winner, Crouch feels the Arsenal manager deserves it.

“I think the winner of the title will deservedly pick it up,” McCoist said. “It’s a tough one to call at this moment in time because there are still two or three games to go. 

“I genuinely think if City win it, four [titles] in succession, then Pep will get it. But if Arsenal do it, then Arteta absolutely deserves it. 

Crouch added: “I just think with Arteta, greatness has become expected from Guardiola. I think with Arteta, they’re massive underdogs. 

“They fell away last year and we’re going to see how they react this year. Reaction has been first class and with two games left, they’re in with a real shout of winning it. 

“As much as you go with who wins it, I just think Arteta just shaves it.”

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