With the Premier League season drawing to a close, it's the time of year when the league begins deciding the awards it's handing out.

Arguably the most important of these is the player of the year award, with many of the league's top stars trying to win it.

This season has been an exceptional Premier League season for so many different reasons, and it's not had any shortage of great players.

Here is a list of the top 15 candidates for the player of the year award.

Samir Nasri

Age: 23

Club: Arsenal

Position: Attacking midfielder

League Goals: 9

League Discipline: 4 Yellow, 0 Red

League Games Played: 23

Reason: Arguably the favorite for the award, Nasri has been one of the main reasons Arsenal has been able to mount a title challenge this season.

Gareth Bale

Age: 21

Club: Tottenham

Position: Left Winger

League Goals: 7

League Discipline: 1 Yellow, 0 Red

League Games Played: 25

Reason: A media favorite, and for good reason, Bale has been giving right backs nightmares all season with unbelievable pace and ability.

Nani

Age: 24

Club: Manchester United

Position: Winger

League Goals: 9

League Discipline: 1 Yellow, 0 Red

League Games Played: 26

Reason: A key part in Manchester United's table-topping exploits, as well as their unbeaten run, Nani has finally started fulfilling his full potential this season.

Charlie Adam

Age: 25

Club: Blackpool

Position: Central Midfielder

League Goals: 9

League Discipline: 10 Yellow, 0 Red

League Games Played: 27

Reason: The subject of large January bids from both Liverpool and Tottenham, Charlie Adam has stormed into fans' hearts, playing a key role in Blackpool's success this year.

Scott Parker

Age: 30

Club: West Ham United

Position: Central Midfielder

League Goals: 5

League Discipline: 7 Yellow, 0 Red

League Games Played: 28

Reason: Despite West Ham's poor form this year, Parker has been the workhorse in the middle of the park, trying to get things started to save a team in desperate need of points.

Edwin van der Sar

Age: 40

Club: Manchester United

Position: Goalkeeper

League Clean Sheets: 12

League Discipline: 1 Yellow, 0 Red

League Games Played: 28

Reason: Having seen van der Sar play this season, it's easy to understand why Manchester United is having such a hard time replacing him with his impending retirement.

Asamoah Gyan

Age: 25

Club: Sunderland

Position: Striker

League Goals: 9

League Discipline: 0 Yellow, 0 Red

League Games Played: 29

Reason: A club favorite without having even completed his first season at the club, Gyan is a goal-scoring hero in Sunderland.

Rafael van der Vaart

Age: 28

Club: Tottenham Hotspur

Position: Attacking midfielder

League Goals: 10

League Discipline: 4 Yellow, 0 Red

League Games Played: 20

Reason: Statistically one of the best players in the league this season, van der Vaart's performances on the pitch for Spurs have been nothing short of magical at times.

Gary Cahill

Age: 25

Club: Bolton Wanderers

Position: Central Defender

League Goals: 3

League Discipline: 5 Yellow, 1 Red

League Games Played: 28

Reason: Finally getting the credit he deserves, Cahill has been a defensive rock for Bolton, helping them compete for Europe this season.

Javier Hernandez

Age: 22

Club: Manchester United

Position: Striker

League Goals: 10

League Discipline: 4 Yellow, 0 Red

League Games Played: 21

Reason: Despite competing for positions with Michael Owen, Wayne Rooney and Dimitar Berbatov, Hernandez has proven himself worthy of a place in the starting XI of one of Europe's top clubs within his first season.

Joey Barton

Age: 28

Club: Newcastle United

Position: Midfielder

League Goals: 4

League Discipline: 7 Yellow, 0 Red

League Games Played: 24

Reason: Regardless of his anger issues in the past, Barton has become a key player for Newcastle this season and has had people calling for his inclusion in the England squad.

Carlos Tevez

Age: 27

Club: Manchester City

Position: Striker

League Goals: 18

League Discipline: 5 Yellow, 0 Red

League Games Played: 26

Reason: Tevez has been one of the main reasons for City's position in the top four so far this season and has proved just how good he can be as a goal scorer.

Nemanja Vidic

Age: 29

Club: Manchester United

Position: Central Defender

League Goals: 4

League Discipline: 6 Yellow, 1 Red

League Games Played: 28

Reason: Vidic played a key role in United's early unbeaten run, working with Edwin van der Sar to ensure that the club would be able to stay undefeated for so long.

Jack Wilshere

Age: 19

Club: Arsenal

Position: Midfielder

League Goals: 1

League Discipline: 4 Yellow, 1 Red

League Games Played: 26

Reason: Wilshere has finally come of age this season, becoming a regular in Arsenal's starting XI and winning his first international cap.

Cheik Tiote

Age: 24

Club: Newcastle United

Position: Midfielder

League Goals: 1

League Discipline: 10 Yellow, 0 Red

League Games Played: 22

Reason: Tiote has been on top form for Newcastle this season, playing a big part in their successful bid to remain in the Premier League so far.

Honorable Mentions

Luka Modric, Tottenham Hotspur: So often the Spurs' unsung hero. Without Modric, Bale and van der Vaart may not have earned so much attention themselves.

Dimitar Berbatov, Manchester United: The top scorer in the Premier League so far courtesy of three hat tricks. For that reason, he deserves a mention.

Peter Odemwingie, West Bromwich Albion: One of the club's most important players, Odemwingie has been West Brom's main goals outlet this season.

Vincent Kompany, Manchester City: In a team filled with big attacking names, Kompany has excelled in commanding the club's defense.

Leighton Baines, Everton: Despite his poor performances for England last summer and Everton's poor form this season, Baines has come on leaps and bounds in his own career this season.