The nominations for the PFA Player of the Year award were announced this week, and there are no surprises in who is the clear favourite with the bookmakers.

With 27 goals and 10 assists in the Premier League alone, Robin Van Persie has spearheaded his clubs charge into the automatic qualification places for next seasons Champions League.

The Dutchman is now just four goals shy of joining Alan Shearer and Cristiano Ronaldo on the record 31 league goals in a 38 game season, and is odds on at 1.1 (1/9) to become the fourth Arsenal player to receive the top prize from the Professional Football Association.

Three of the remaining five names on the list are from a Manchester City side, likely to finish the season without any silverware despite dominating the Premier League for most of the campaign.

Had the award been voted for in January, second favourite David Silva would have been many people’s choice, though the Spanish playmaker, who is 10.0 (9/1) with Paddy Power, has faded in recent months, along with his team’s chances of glory.

Argentinian striker Sergio Aguero has had a fine first season in English Football, and is good value at 23.0 (22/1), especially if his team can defy the odds and topple their neighbours at the top of the table, whilst Joe Hart’s chances of becoming only the second goalkeeper to win the accolade are represented by the odds of 34.0 (33/1) that Paddy Power offers, despite being in fine form throughout the year.

With 24 league goals, 2010 champion Wayne Rooney could well catch Van Persie in the race for the Premier League Golden Boot, and is almost certain of a fifth Premier League winner’s medal. With this in mind, you might be tempted by the 17.0 (16/1) given, again by Paddy Power.

Last on the list is Tottenham Hotspur midfielder – and current Football Writers Player of the Year -Scott Parker, who is a 51.0 (50/1) outsider to take the award from teammate Gareth Bale.

Bale is one of the names on the shortlist for this year’s PFA Young Player of the Year, along with fellow Spurs player Kyle Walker and Arsenal’s winger Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.

Strikers Daniel Sturridge and Danny Welbeck of Chelsea and Manchester United respectively, make the cut, while Sergio Aguero is the only man to be nominated for both awards.