Adam Lallana the standout candidate for the Daily Echo's Fans' Saints Player for the Year award

Adam Lallana has to be the fans’ choice for the prestigious award.

He is the cog which keeps Saints going.

Without his artistry and invention, the squad would not have risen through the divisions at the speed it did and with the plaudits it garnered.

His England selection was well deserved and his displays for the national side catapulted his skills to the national conscience, following years of being overlooked in favour of other, faster team mates.

With this however, comes a cost.

Suddenly the giants of the domestic league are looking at him and it would not be a surprise should his head be turned.

Hopefully, though, he will still be here next season to compete for the Saints player of the year award once more.

Lallana, of course, is not the only player in a red (hopefully the white stripes will be returning soon) shirt to have impressed.

Luke Shaw is being spoken about in terms of world record fees for a left back, Dejan Lovren has given a defensive masterclass time and time again.

However, the second and third spots should go to Jay Rodriguez and Jack Cork.

J Rod has shown a greater composure this term and was rightly pushing for a place in Brazil until injury cut him down.

His direct running, brave attitude and eye for goal made him easily Saints’ top scorer.

Cork, meanwhile, started August on the bench but when £12.5m man Victor Wanyama suffered injury, he grabbed the opportunity with both hands.

His composure on the ball and willingness to put in the hard yards made him irresistible in the middle.

Some have even suggested he could be the next Saints player to push for an England place.

He looked to have slipped down the pecking order, but now he’s better than ever.

The Sports Pink Online