Eddie Howe has insisted that Manchester United striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic is in the reckoning to win the PFA Player of the Year award. The Bournemouth boss takes his side to Old Trafford for Saturday's lunch time Premier League encounter with Ibrahimovic's recent form fresh in mind.
Speaking to theDaily Mirror,Howe said: Zlatan is definitely a candidate for player of the season. Take his age out of it, it's what he has achieved this season and what he has done.
We played against United on the first day of the season I was very impressed by him. He took his goal well and he has gone on to prove how good he is.
"His sheer number of goals is incredible and his appetite for the game impressed me last week with how he approached that cup final,' he added.
"Even in interviews after you can see how he is built to achieve the success he has. I'm appreciating him on a football level."
The Swede has scored nine goals since the start of the year and he'll be in the reckoning with Alexis Sanchez, Harry Kane, N'Golo Kante, Diego Costa, Eden Hazard and Romelu Lukaku for the covetedaward.
Fortunately for Howe, Zlatan did not add to his tally when United drew with the Cherries 1-1 on Saturday - indeed, the big Swede managed to miss a penalty in what proved to be a controversial encounter.