Nigeria's Jay-Jay Okocha has been named among the six nominees for the prestigious Professional Footballers Association (PFA) Player of the Year award in England.
The Bolton Wanderers and Nigeria captain will contest the award with five other noted English Premiership performers.
The Nigerian is up against Englishmen Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard and Alan Shearer, as well as the French pair Patrick Vieira and Thierry Henry, with the latter winning the award last year.
The award is voted for by Okocha's fellow professionals, which is why the trophy is so welcome to its recipient.
Since joining the Premiership, the Super Eagles captain's career has been on a steady rise.
Okocha joined Bolton Wanderers in July 2002, and has scored seven goals in over 40 league appearances.
His form has been particularly impressive this season, during which he has guided Bolton away from any relegation fears as well as steered the club to its first Carling Cup final.
Among the most memorable of his dazzling performances on the pitch was the dramatic 5-2 Carling Cup semi-final win over Aston Villa in January.
The midfielder's free-kick taking skills were at their devastating best as the Nigerian skipper netted two of the five goals that sank Villa, the second of which many rate as one of the goals of the season.
However, Okocha could not lift Bolton to Carling Cup glory as he put in a jaded performance against Middlesbrough in the final shortly after his return from Cup of Nations duty with the Super Eagles in Tunisia.
The nomination for the PFA award is the third time this year Okocha's creativity and flair has been recognised.
In February, he was named the BBC African Footballer of the Year for 2003 while last month, the Nigerian was included in Brazilian legend Pele's list of the 125 greatest footballers still alive.
No African player has ever won the PFA Award throughout its 30-year existence.
MMIX
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