Didier is top Drog - Lampard

Didier Drogba should be crowned PFA Player of the Year tomorrow night because he has been the “best striker in the world this season”, according to Chelsea team-mate Frank Lampard.

The Ivory Coast international, 29, has netted 31 goals to keep the Blues on the heels of Manchester United in the Barclays Premiership and also on track for FA Cup and Champions League glory to add to their Carling Cup triumph.

Drogba faces stiff competition from bookmakers’ favourite Cristiano Ronaldo for the accolade, which will be presented following a gala dinner in London tomorrow night.

However, England midfielder Lampard – himself shortlisted in 2005 and 2006 - feels his team-mate has the edge.

“From working so closely with Didier, I really feel he deserves to get it because he has been the best striker in the world this season,” said Lampard, 28.

“But they are both well deserving of winning the award.

“Ronaldo’s ability on the ball is amazing – the way he has been playing recently shows he is one of the best players in the Premiership and probably the world at the moment.

“It is great to see a player with skill that excites you so much. But the reason I would give it to Didier is because his goals record has been so prolific.

“He has scored crucial goals, he has scored easy goals, the little tap-ins and the great goals that have won us games.”

Ronaldo, 22, has been in awesome form for United this season, as the Red Devils remain on course for a potential Premiership, FA Cup and Champions League treble themselves.

Having recently agreed a new, lucrative five-year deal at Old Trafford, the future is bright for the Portugal winger, who faced an uncertain future after some harsh criticism in the fall-out from his part in England’s World Cup demise last summer.

Middlesbrough boss Gareth Southgate believes Ronaldo and Drogba would both be worthy winners.

“I think Ronaldo and Didier Drogba will be the two leading candidates for that award and rightly so,” he said.

“They are both leaders on the pitch for their teams, even though they are not captains. Drogba has been phenomenal for Chelsea, not just for the goals he’s scored but for his leadership.

“You look for leaders and he’s a rare commodity.”

Ronaldo’s team-mates Paul Scholes and Ryan Giggs, Arsenal midfielder Cesc Fabregas and last year’s winner Steven Gerrard, the Liverpool captain, complete the shortlist.

Both Ronaldo and Fabregas will be up against England forward Wayne Rooney in the young player category.

The United striker, 21, has won the award for the past two years and is joined among the 2007 nominees by Reading striker Kevin Doyle, 23, Tottenham winger Aaron Lennon, 19, and 18-year-old defender Micah Richards, of Manchester City.