Tottenham defender Toby Alderweireld admitted he was "proud" to win Match of the Day's Defender of the Year award for 2016 after recovering from illness and injury to end the past year strong.
The Belgian centre-back is one of the finest defenders currently playing in the Premier League, and has formed a formidable partnership with compatriot Jan Vertonghen at Spurs since arriving from Atletico Madrid on a five-year deal in the summer of 2015.
Such has been his solid form for Mauricio Pochettino's side, who challenged champions Leicester City for the title until May last term, that Alderweireld was this week named as Match of the Day's Defender of the Year for 2016.
And, as he posed with his framed award at Tottenham's Enfield training base, the 27-year-old thanked his fans for their support.
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"Proud to win the MOTD defender of the year 2016. Big thanks to everyone. #COYS," the defender wrote on Twitter on Tuesday evening.
Alderweireld played in the centre of a three-man defence for Spurs' FA Cup third-round win over Aston Villa at the weekend, and is expected to start when Tottenham host West Brom in the Premier League on Saturday.
