Kante wins POTY award

Chelsea midfielder N'Golo Kante was named Player of the Year by the Premier League on Sunday, adding a third individual accolade to a list of achievements this season that includes winning a second consecutive Premier League title.

The 26-year-old Frenchman, who joined champions Chelsea from last year's title winners Leicester City in July, has already been named Player of the Year by the Football Writers Association and the Professional Footballers Association.

Kante fended off competition from teammates Eden Hazard and Cesar Azpilicueta, Tottenham Hotspur's Harry Kane and Dele Alli, Everton's Romelu Lukaku, and Arsenal's Alexis Sanchez to win the award.

"It's a huge honour to be named player of the year... and I want to thank everyone who voted for me," Kante said in a statement on the league's website.

Kante has scored one league goal and provided one assist this season, but it is his ability to break up play, shield Chelsea's defence and launch attacks that has been key.

"I work hard in training, I try to give my best and I work with so many very good players; that's why we won the league two times," Kante added. "We played many good games but we won 5-0 against Everton, which was a very beautiful game, and also my goal against Manchester United. It is always good to score and I am happy for these two games."

Kante said after picking up the Football Writers' Association (FWA) Player of the Year award that his side would challenge for all four major trophies next season.

“Next season will be a new challenge because we are going to try to keep the title, to win the two cups [FA Cup and EFL Cup] and also we'll have the Champions League," Kante said. "For a club like Chelsea, we want to win everything, we're going to try and win everything."