Lampard and Terry to add gloss for Chelsea

Chelsea's domination of English soccer this season looks certain to continue when the player of the year awards are handed out in the coming weeks.

Midfielder Frank Lampard and defender John Terry are strong favourites to land the top honours, setting up the prospect of two different English players taking the awards for the first time since 1992.

Their only realistic challengers are team-mates, including winger Arjen Robben, goalkeeper Petr Cech and midfielder Claude Makelele, and Arsenal striker Thierry Henry, who has scooped both awards for the last two years.

A model of consistency, the 26-year-old Lampard has blossomed into the complete midfielder, defensively diligent, astute and possessing a tremendous shot with both feet.

Terry, 24, has been equally important in Chelsea's push for honours.

Before yesterday, the powerful defender has been at the heart of Jose Mourinho's back line 45 times, contributing eight goals mainly with headers from set pieces as Chelsea have moved to the brink of their first league title for 50 years.

Foreign players have dominated the Professional Footballers' Association and Football Writers' Association awards recently.

Frenchmen David Ginola and Eric Cantona, and Italian Gianfranco Zola are all on the roll of honour, but 2005 looks sure to produce the first English winner since Teddy Sheringham in 2001.

If Terry and Lampard take one each they would be the first English duo to achieve the feat since Gary Pallister, of Manchester United, and Gary Lineker, of Tottenham Hotspur, 13 years ago.