3:39pm, Tuesday 18th April 2007
Kevin Doyle says his nomination for the PFA Young Player of the Year award has taken him by complete surprise.
The Royals striker got the news of his nomination via text message as he came off the training ground at Hogwood Park on Monday. And he admits it's a huge honour just to be amongst the contenders for one of English football's most prestigious accolades.
Doyle said, "Marcus Hahnemann told me last week that I might be up for an award, but I wasn't sure. I'd forgotten all about it until after I came off the training ground on Monday and saw a few text messages on my phone. Eventually I realised what they were about and I was obviously delighted.
"It's brilliant to be recognised by your fellow footballers, and that is one of the biggest things about it for me. You always wonder what other players think about you, so it's a nice feeling to think they have voted for me. I suppose it must show that I have played well against some of them this season!
Doyle has been a revelation in the Premiership this season. The 23-year-old briefly led the Premiership scoring charts earlier in the season, notching 10 goals during the first half of the campaign before picking up a hamstring injury at Everton in January.
His superb form has also earned him a place in Steve Staunton's Irish side, where he has also hit the target on two occasions. And Doyle says the success that both he and the Royals have experienced this season is much more than he expected.
He added, "It's brilliant to end the season in this way because I'd been out for a while and you get down when you are injured.
"I'd hoped things would go well this season, but to be honest I didn't expect it to be quite so good. If someone had told me last summer that I'd get into double figures for goals then I would have been extremely happy. I've managed to do that while the team have got themselves into the top half of the table as well. So all in all it has been more than I could have hoped for."
So, given the big names Doyle will be competing against, how does Doyle think he will fare on the night?
He said, "Wayne Rooney, Cristiano Ronaldo, Cesc Fabrigas, Micah Richards, Aaron Lennon - I'm obviously up against it. It's a who's who of footballers and then there is me!
"They are all extremely good players, which will probably kill off any chances I have of winning it. But it's just nice to be nominated."
"I'm really looking forward to the awards ceremony. It's a big event and will be the first time I've been, so it should be a good night."
