Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson has backed Nemanja Vidic to be named PFA Player of the Year. United manager Ferguson said: "We have had a lot of standout performers this season, players who have all done well, but Vidic has been exceptional.

"I also have to say that Ryan Giggs just amazes you every time that he plays nowadays. When we won the treble in 1999, though, my players didn't win a single award, so they are not something I place too much emphasis on."

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has suggested that the PFA vote fails to recognise the performances of players throughout an entire season, with votes usually cast by PFA members during January and February.

And Ferguson concedes that the timing of the voting does not lend itself to identifying the true standout player of the season.

He said: "The voting for the PFA award is done early and that is something that I have mentioned in the past. It should perhaps be done a bit later, but the Football Writers' award is voted for at the end of the season and the two don't really want to coincide."