Erling Haaland did not receive any votes in one of the most respected Player of the Year award votes and a possible explanation has been given.
Haaland leads the Premier League Golden Boot charts once again after scoring 25 goals in 28 appearances this term.
His four-goal haul against Wolves last weekend pulled him away from contenders Cole Palmer, Ollie Watkins and Alexander Isak.
Advert
He still has three games to add to his tally but incredibly, it's emerged that Haaland did not receive a single nomination in the recent Football Writers' Association Men's Player of the Year award.
The Norway international’s teammate Phil Foden scooped the prize after a stunning campaign, while Rodri came second and Arsenal's Declan Rice completed the top three.
Haaland collected the gong last season after hitting 36 goals in a record-breaking debut campaign.
But there is a theory for why he was overlooked this time around. In Jack Gaughan's latest 'Man City Notebook' column for the Daily Mail, he cites a source who believes that there is a narrative developing around the former Borussia Dortmund striker.
It's claimed that former Manchester United captain-turned-pundit Roy Keane is a key driver of the idea that Haaland only scores goals after branding his general play as "that of a League Two player" following the 0-0 draw with Arsenal.
Keane also recently called Haaland a "spoilt brat" for his reaction after being subbed off against Wolves and there's a view that his comments influence the way people judge the 23-year-old.
"It's now a common story that Erling needs to score goals to justify his place,' the source told the Daily Mail.
"His best game last season was against Arsenal, the title decider. He didn't score until the last second and his hold up play killed them."
Haaland is in contention for both the Premier League Player of the Season ad Young Player of the Season awards, though Rodri has surprisingly been omitted from the shortlist.
Topics: Erling Haaland, Manchester City, Premier League, Phil Foden
Josh Lawless