EPL: Leicester end-of-season award delights Ndidi

Super Eagles midfielder  Wilfred Ndidi   has expressed his delight at winning  the Leicester City’s Young Player of the Year award at the Foxes’ end-of-season ceremony on Monday evening.

The teenager, who  swapped Belgian outfit Genk  for  Leicester in a deal worth £18m  during the  January transfer window, scooped the award  ahead of England youth internationals  Demarai Gray and Ben Chilwel.

The versatile player, who has played 15 Premier League matches, against  Derby in the FA Cup and Stoke in the league, praised the  side’s resilience and motivation to keep their Premiership status despite  they struggled to reproduce their top form in the league.

“I feel really happy and I’m honoured to receive this award. I see Demarai Gray and Ben Chilwell as great players, so I never really expected the award because of the type of players that they are,” Ndidi was quoted as saying by the club’s official website on Tuesday.

“Everybody around me is trying their best to help me settle here so a lot of credit goes to the coach, staff and everyone here.”

Goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel emerged as the  Player of the Year and he picked up the Players’ Player of the Year award to complete his trophy double.

It is the second time the 30-year-old Denmark international  has won both awards after he did the double in his debut season at City, in 2012.

“I’m overwhelmed. I’m very proud because there are a lot of worthy competitors in the team for this award. I’m proud and happy and for me, I won this award the first season I was here, so to win it again is a big honour,” Schmeichel told  LCFC TV after collecting both awards.

“I’m hugely grateful for the fans’ support. We’ve certainly had our shares of ups and downs throughout the seasons here with the Play-Off loss, promotion, nearly getting relegated and then winning the league.”Punch