Shinji Kagawa and Pro League trio among nominees for AFC awards

Al Jazira's Ricardo Oliveira and Al Nasr's Bruno Correa are among the nominees for foreign player of the year at the 2012 awards, while Lucas Neill has been shortlisted for Asian player of the year.

Australia and Al Wasl defender Lucas Neill
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Manchester United midfielder Shinji Kagawa and Fulham's Australian goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer are among the nominees for the Asian Football Confederation's new international player of the year award.

The English Premier League are joined on the three-man shortlist by Japan and Inter Milan defender Yuto Nagatomo.

Pro League representation comes from Al Jazira striker Ricardo Oliveira and Al Nasr's on-loan forward Bruno Correa, who have both been shortlisted for foreign player of the year, along with Rogerio de Assis Silva Coutinho of Al-Kuwait.

Al Wasl and Australia star Lucas Neill is among the nominees for the Asian player of the year award, which is open to candidates playing for clubs in the continent.

He will battle it out with South Korean winger Lee Keun-Ho, Guangzho Evergrand stopper Zheng Zhi and Iranian pair Ali Karimi and Mohsen Bengar.

The new honour comes after years of the AFC only nominating players who would be available to attend the awards, which regularly ruled out many worthy winners who played for European clubs.

Three members of Japan's Olympic silver medal winners, Aya Miyama, Homare Sawa and Yuki Ogimi were nominated for the Women's Player of the Year award.

The winners will be announced at the AFC awards night in Kuala Lumpur on Nov. 29

sports@thenational.ae

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