Liverpool midfielder Adam Lallana has been voted England’s Player of the Year for 2016.
With 39 per cent of the vote, the 28-year-old beat Leicester City striker Jamie Vardy and Three Lions captain Wayne Rooney by a sizeable distance.
Lallana was crowned by members of the England Supporters’ Club after a series of inspiring performances for the national side over the previous 12 months.
They included opening his international account to give Sam Allardyce’s side a stoppage-time win over Slovakia in September’s World Cup qualifier.
Allardyce’s successor Gareth Southgate also reaped the benefits of Lallana’s influence with strikes against Scotland and a friendly draw with Spain.
“This award is a huge honour,” Lallana told TheFA.com.
“The last three winners were Rooney (2015), Rooney (2014) and Steven Gerrard (2012) so that just goes to show what a great achievement this is.
“Things have been going well this season for my club, so that always helps.
“When you’re playing well for your club then hopefully you can transmit your form into the national team and help out.
“That’s what has been happening but I don’t want that to be for just one season – I want to continue that for as long as possible.
“Off the back of a disappointing year for England as a whole, I’ll be looking to definitely improve in 2017
“Hopefully we can build on how it has started under Gareth Southgate, as there have been plenty of positives.”