Steven Pienaar is Everton's best player 'by miles' - Phil Neville
PHIL NEVILLE has described Steven Pienaar as Everton's "best player by an absolute mile".
The South African midfielder continued his run of good form at Sunderland, scoring the first goal in the 2-0 victory.
And Neville feels his established combination with Leighton Baines down the left-hand side has been key to the club's resurgence in the second half of the season.
"He has been our best player by an absolute mile," said the Everton captain.
"He's an infectious player and he gets on the ball and wants the ball.
"The combination of him and Bainesy down the left-hand side is as good as any in the Premier League, I feel."
Neville has, however, called on Pienaar to continue to improve his scoring record.
His goal at the Stadium of Light was his second in five games following a goal at Aston Villa in April - but that was the first time he had got on the scoresheet since November 2007.
"Steven got the goal, and that is something he needs to do more of," continued Neville.
"But he is a top, top player.
"One of the best I've played with since I've been at Everton."
Meanwhile Everton's Aussie talisman Tim Cahill has been nominated for his country's first ever Footballer of the Year award.
The Blues midfielder is among 12 nominess for his country's inaugural PFA award.
The prestigious honour will be voted for by members of the Australian Professional Footballers' Association (PFA) which numbers 300 professional players in the A-League and throughout Europe.
PFA members will be asked to award votes on a 3-2-1 basis, with the winners to be announced at the inaugural Australian Football Awards in Sydney on June 11.
Former Liverpool winger Harry Kewell has also received his own personal honour, with the PFA announcing the introduction of the Harry Kewell Medal to be awarded to the best under-23 player each year.
The 12 nominees for the PFA Footballer Of The Year are: Tim Cahill, Travis Dodd, Eugene Galekovic, Mile Jedinak, Harry Kewell, Scott McDonald, Craig Moore, Kevin Muscat, Lucas Neill, Sasa Ognenovski, Mark Schwarzer and Shane Smeltz.
"It's a great honour to be nominated," said Kewell. "The English PFA award is the most valued individual honour for footballers playing in the Premier League. It is fantastic that Australian footballers also have the opportunity to be recognised by their peers in this way."
Kewell, currently playing in Istanbul for Galatasaray, has denied rumours he is homesick in Turkey and pining for a return to the English Premier League.
"There is no truth to it at all," said Kewell's agent Bernie Mandic.
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