Antonio Conte believes FWA Award should go to a Chelsea player with N'Golo Kante and Eden Hazard in running for prestigious accolade

The Football Writers' Association will announce the 2017 Footballer of the Year on Monday - and Chelsea manager Antonio Conte believes one of his players would be a deserved choice.

The prestigious FWA accolade was first presented in 1948 to Stanley Matthews and is decided from a vote of the association's now 340-strong membership.

The league champions have often seen one of their key men named as the recipient, with Leicester forward Jamie Vardy topping the 2016 poll of journalists while Chelsea midfielder Eden Hazard was Footballer of the Year two seasons ago.

Chelsea manager Antonio Conte hopes one of his players will scoop the FWA Awardu00a0 — Chelsea manager Antonio Conte hopes one of his players will scoop the FWA Award

N'Golo Kante, who has already won the PFA Award, is one of the front runners to winu00a0 — N'Golo Kante, who has already won the PFA Award, is one of the front runners to win

Eden Hazard is another contender for the prestigious Football Writers' Association accolade

The Belgian could well feature among the writers' vote again, while Blues' midfield enforcer N'Golo Kante is another contender having last month collected the Professional Footballers' Association Player of the Year trophy.