ZAHA is named Player of Year

May 9 2018

Wilfried Zaha

Crystal Palace winger WILFRIED ZAHA has won the 2017/18 Player of the Year award.

The Ivory Coast international has played an integral role in helping Palace secure their Premier League status for a sixth successive campaign.

He has found the net eight times – behind 10-goal top scorer Luka Milivojevic – and has assisted on three occasions this term.

The same day, ZAHA saw off Premier League competition to win April's EA SPORTS Player of the Month award for the first time.

At the start of the season when I was watching from the sidelines I would not have thought I would be picking this up today... I want to thank God, my team, the manager & the fans for the non stop support. It’s been an overwhelming week & I’m very thankful ???????? #CPFC #GodIsGreat pic.twitter.com/CkXo6lZlWo
— WILFRIED ZAHA (@WILFRIEDZAHA) WILFRIEDZAHA/status/994304828712079363?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 9, 2018

Collecting the top-player award for a third straight season from manager Roy Hodgson, the 25-year-old said: "The team has helped me massively, and the fans too.

"We have gone through some rough periods and they have supported us throughout everything, so I have to give thanks to them for supporting me and believing in me up to now.

"It shows that the hard work is paying off. Obviously I've had injuries this year which haven't helped, but I've just had to work hard. My team believe in me, the gaffer believes in me and the fans believe in me.

"I'm just buzzing that we're secure in the Premier League for next season, and to top that off, the award has made this season even better."

View previous Player of the Year Award winnners

Aaron Wan-Bissaka was handed Palace's Young Player of the award after making a huge impact.

The 20-year-old, who has been with the club's Academy since 10, impressed greatly when thrown into the action in February due to an injury crisis.

Luka Milivojevic’s 25-yard effort against Southampton was voted by fans as Palace's goal of the season.