March 15 2010

Nathaniel Clyne

Crystal Palace defender Nathaniel Clyne has been named the FourFourTwo Football League Young Player of the Year.

The 18-year-old was a winner at the 2010 Football League Awards incorporating FourFourTwo's Top 50 Football League Players at Grosvenor House, Park Lane on Sunday.

Now an England U19 international, Clyne has excelled in Palace's first team since making his Eagles debut last season.

Clyne snubbed a transfer to Wolves in January, deciding to continue his football education at Palace where he is gaining regular first team experience.

He is ranked 17th in FourFourTwo’s Top 50 Football League Players list, making him the highest under-21 player.

"It is very pleasing as there are a lot of young players out there playing first-team football. I’m very happy," Clyne says in the April issue of FourFourTwo magazine, in shops Monday.

"Neil Warnock gave me my first-team debut and I owe a lot for that opportunity. He gave me a lot of confidence to perform out on the field."

Previous winners of the award include Fabian Delph, Michael Kightly, Gareth Bale and David Nugent.

At the 2009 Football League awards, Palace's Sean Scannell won the Championship's Apprentice of the Year.