Manchester City star should win Player of the Year AND Young Player of the Year, says talkSPORT pundit
Nico O’Reilly has emerged as a favourite for both Player and Young Player of the Year.Primarily a midfielder, O’Reilly has thrived as a left-back and No.10, tallying 5 goals and 3 assists in 31 Pr...
Manchester City star should win Player of the Year AND Young Player of the Year, says talkSPORT pundit Nico O’Reilly has emerged as a favourite for both Player and Young Player of the Year. Primarily a midfielder, O’Reilly has thrived as a left-back and No. 10, tallying 5 goals and 3 assists in 31 Premier League appearances this season.
Following City’s 2-1 FA Cup semi-final win over Southampton, the academy graduate is central to Pep Guardiola’s hunt for a second domestic treble. Ally McCoist has insisted that in Nico O’Reilly, Manchester City have this season’s Young Player of the Year recipient as well as the winner of the overall Player of the Year in the Premier League. The rise of the Manchester-born academy graduate has arguably been the story of the season at the Etihad Stadium, with Nico O’Reilly becoming Pep Guardiola’s tactical Swiss Army knife, picking up the club’s Player of the Month award for February 2026.
The England international’s recent form includes a vital goal in the 3-0 dismantling of Chelsea at Stamford Bridge , and a brace against Arsenal in the Carabao Cup final to spark a huge end-of-season push for a domestic Treble. City sit just three points behind Arsenal with a game in hand, largely thanks to O’Reilly’s ability to cover for the injured Rodri in midfield while still offering a goal threat, and offering a level of assuredness at left-back when called upon. Ally McCoist: “A Shoo-in for the World Cup” Now, speaking alongside Jeff Stelling on talkSPORT , Ally McCoist has stated that Nico O’Reilly is on track to be a serious contender for both this season’s Player of the Year, and Young Player of the Year awards.
“He’s a shoo-in for Young Player of the Year, so he should be. I also think that he’s a certain starter at the World Cup,” said McCoist. The Scotsman continued, “If they continue the way that they’re going and [Manchester] City do win the domestic treble, and he does as he has been doing, chipping in with incredibly important goals… “I think he can win both awards.