Wellington Phoenix striker Paul Ifill says he is not getting carried away with speculation that he is a big chance to take out this season's Johnny Warren Medal for the best player in the A-League.

The English-born Barbadian goalscorer has had a huge impact in his first season in the competition, helping the Phoenix to their first finals campaign but has brushed aside talk that he could be voted the 2009/10 player of the year.

"My vote would go to Carlos Hernandez, I think he's been absolutely top drawer," he said. "I'd pay to go and watch him. There's not many players you could say that about, but I think he's been excellent this season."

Phoenix manager Ricki Herbert has labelled the former Millwall, Sheffield United and Crystal Palace hitman as the best player in the league but Ifill insists that is just one man's opinion, preferring to deflect any adulation away.

"If the manager wants to say that, he can pay me like the best player in the league," he added.

Ifill hit the back of the net on 12 occasions and provided eight goal assists during the home and away rounds in a brilliant debut season in the A-League.