MIDDLESBROUGH striker Patrick Bamford has been shortlisted for the prestigious Young Player of the Year award at this weekend's Football League Awards ceremony.

Bamford, who has scored 16 goals for Boro after joining on loan from Chelsea at the start of the season, is one of three nominees for the Young Player award, which covers players in all three Football League divisions.

The England Under-21 international is up against Norwich City winger Nathan Redmond and MK Dons midfielder Dele Alli for the award, which will be presented at the tenth annual Football League Awards on Sunday.

Awarded to the best player in the Football League under the age of 21, or in the season in which he turned 21, the Young Player award has previously been won by the likes of Gareth Bale, Fabian Delph and Wilfried Zaha.

Shortlists for the Sky Bet Players of the Year in each division will be announced ahead of the weekend, and other categories at the awards include the Family Club of the Year, Johnstone’s Paint Community Club of the Year, PFA Player in the Community, Capital One Supporter of the Year, the Mitre Goal of the Year, LFE Apprentice of the Year and the Sir Tom Finney Award.