Phil Foden is crowned PFA Men's Players' Player of the Year after lifting fourth Premier League title in a row - as Man City complete double with Khadija Shaw winning Women's gong

Phil Foden has been crowned PFA Men's Players' Player of the Year by his fellow footballers for the first time.

The Manchester City star scored 19 goals and made eight assists during a Premier League campaign which climaxed with his side lifting their fourth consecutive title.

‘To win this is something very special and it is one that I am very proud of and grateful for,’ said Foden. ‘To be recognised this way by your fellow professionals means everything. 

'Last season was another very special one for everyone at Man City but now all our focus is concentrated on trying to achieve more success this term,’ he added. 

Foden, who won the young players' version twice, inherits the honour from team-mate Erling Haaland, who was again nominated for his exploits last season.

It marks a double for Manchester City as they are also celebrating Khadija Shaw claiming the women's award.

'Bunny' Shaw had already won the FWA Women's Footballer of the Year for a stunning campaign which saw her score 21 goals.

For Foden this is a major vindication of his reputation and his ability as one of the key cogs in Pep Guardiola's system. 

He beat Haaland and Rodri from Manchester City, Martin Odegaard of Arsenal, Chelsea's Cole Palmer, and Aston Villa star Ollie Watkins to the prize.  

He had to bide his time to become a City regular but he is now one of the first names on the team sheet for club and country.  

With Kevin De Bruyne injured for the first half of the season, Foden stepped up and shouldered his responsibilities.  

Many saw it as a sign of him inheriting the Belgian's mantle as City's creator-in-chief in the long run.

While players are voted on according to their Premier League performances, it was a shining year in the competitions beyond for the 24-year-old from Stockport. 

Foden appeared in matches for City in all competitions, posting a career-best total of 27 goals and 12 assists as they pushed on multiple fronts. 

While City were dumped out of the Champions League quarter-finals by Real Madrid, he was player of the match in the 3-3 draw at the Santiago Bernabeu, proving his influence at the highest level. 

After being crowned FWA Player of the Year, Foden sat down exclusively with Mail Sport and revealed a drive to be the best every single day. 

‘Every time we put our boots on at the training ground that saying is there on the wall,' he said. 

‘It says: “Nobody has won four Premier Leagues in a row…yet”.

‘We want to put ourselves in history. Every day I sit and look at that slogan and I think: “Why not?”.’

As for Shaw, she was the Women's Super League top scorer for the first time last season and broke the 20-goal barrier for the second campaign on the spin. 

A foot injury meant she missed the back end of the season as City chased the title, and in the end they came up short, finishing second.

Shaw had netted 21 goals in 18 games for Gareth Taylor's side before sustaining the injury in a 5-0 win over West Ham.