Rooney is PFA's player of the year

MANCHESTER, England, April 26 (UPI) -- Wayne Rooney, who scored 34 goals this season, was voted the Professional Footballers' Association Player of the Year.

Rooney had league-best 26 goals in Premier League play despite battling through ankle and groin injuries and won the vote of the association's members over Arsenal's Cesc Fabregas, Manchester City's Carlos Tevez and Chelsea's Didier Drogba.

It is the fourth consecutive season a Manchester United player took the honor. Ryan Giggs won last year and Cristiano Ronaldo took the award in 2007 and 2008.

"It's a great feeling to win the player of the year award because it's voted for by the players," said Rooney. "It's something I'm really proud of and it's a great honor.

"I remember coming here in 2005 and 2006 to win the young player of the year. I saw the players winning the main one and it's something I've aimed for since."

Rooney was nominated for the PFA Young Player of the Year award, which he won in 2005 and 2006, but that went to Aston Villa's James Milner.

The awards were announced Sunday.