FERNANDO TORRES has been recognised for an outstanding debut season at Liverpool by making the shortlist for the PFA Player of the Year award.

The 24-year-old striker, a club record signing from Atletico Madrid last summer, has also made the shortlist for the Young Player of the Year award.

His main opposition will come from reigning PFA Player and Young Player of the Year Cristiano Ronaldo, the Manchester United winger again nominated for both awards.

Arsenal midfielder Cesc Fabregas is also in the reckoning in both categories.

Torres’s Liverpool team-mate Steven Gerrard – who was Player of the Year in 2006 and Young Player in 2001 – has also been nominated for the main award along with Arsenal’s Emmanuel Adebayor and veteran Portsmouth goalkeeper David James.

Ronaldo has netted 37 goals in all competitions this season, while Torres has 29 and Adebayor 25.

Announcing the nominees, PFA chief executive Gordon Taylor said of Torres: “There have been many great Liverpool number nines and he has carried on the tradition this season, responding brilliantly to what was a massive challenge; all of which speaks volumes about his strength of character as well as ability.”

Torres, Ronaldo and Fabregas will compete with Aston Villa duo Gabriel Agbonlahor and Ashley Young and Manchester City’s Micah Richards for the young player award.

The winners will be announced at the gala awards ceremony on Sunday, April 27.