Raheem Sterling has been named the Football Writers’ Association (FWA) Footballer of the Year for 2019. 

The Manchester City star has enjoyed a stunning 2018-19 season for club and country, scoring 17 goals and providing 10 assists in the club’s relentless battle against Liverpool to retain the Premier League title.

City have already lifted back-to-back EFL Cups and Sterling was on hand to score the decisive penalty in February’s shoot-out triumph over Chelsea at Wembley, where he returned the following month to net a hat-trick in England’s 5-0 Euro 2020 qualifying demolition of the Czech Republic.

Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk beat Sterling to the Professional Footballers’ Association Player of the Year prize on Sunday, with the 24-year-old instead collecting the organisation’s young player award.