Lucas Leiva was today crowned Liverpool's Young Player of the Season following a fans' vote on Liverpoolfc.tv.
After revealing Pepe Reina as the winner of our main award yesterdat, we can today confirm Lucas has won your vote as our best young star.
Thousands of votes were cast - but it was our Brazilian midfielder who clinched the accolade with 48 per cent of the vote.
Lucas was a virtual ever-present in Rafael Benitez's starting XI during the course of 2009-10 as he figured in all but three of Liverpool's Barclays Premier League fixtures.
In total, the 23-year-old made 50 appearances for the Reds after heading into the campaign on the back of a glowing endorsement from the boss, who hailed him as our best player of pre-season.
In fact, only Dirk Kuyt, Pepe Reina and Jamie Carragher turned out for the first team more than Lucas during the term.
Arguably the highlight of a season of real progression for our No.21 came during Liverpool's 4-1 Europa League quarter-final, second-leg victory over Benfica at Anfield in April.
Lucas capped a man of the match performance with a superbly taken goal, in which he coolly rounded the goalkeeper and slotted into an empty net after collecting Steven Gerrard's through pass.
Emiliano Insua was runner-up in our poll with 20 per cent of the vote, while David Ngog and Ryan Babel were joint third with 11 per cent each.
Rafael Benitez believes the mental strength and character displayed by Lucas Leiva throughout 2009-10 makes the Brazilian a deserved recipient of Liverpool fans' Young Player of the Season award.
The Brazilian, who was a virtual ever-present for the Reds, scooped the accolade after collecting a 48 per cent of the supporters' vote in our online poll.
It signals a turnaround in fortunes for the 23-year-old, who overcame some early-season media criticism to establish himself as one of Liverpool's most consistent performers.
"Lucas is still a young player. He has been working very hard and doing a very good job this year for us," Benitez told Liverpoolfc.tv.
"I don't see too many players in the situation of Lucas, who have been criticised so hard, especially in the media and sometimes in the stadium.
"But still he was working hard, with confidence in games and trying to improve. He has shown his character and improved a lot."
Lucas missed just three of Liverpool's Barclays Premier League fixtures in 2009-10, and made 50 appearances overall - with only Dirk Kuyt, Jamie Carragher and Pepe Reina turning out more times for the Reds.
However, Benitez is convinced there is much more to come from the No.21.
"He is very good mentally and he likes to improve and compete," added the boss. "He likes a challenge and he has proved this over the season.
"I think he can still improve. He is a young player, knows what the tempo of the Premier League is like and is improving every day."
"He doesn't get the accolades he deserves from enough people within the game, but certainly our supporters know.watch free Liverpool's Lucas Leiva compilation video here :
"They've seen the progress he's made, the determination, commitment and work rate in each and every game, and I think he's come on in leaps and bounds this season.
"I think he's improved most on the ball - he's got great skill on the ball. He's affecting the play more now with switching of play and penetrating passes. I think overall his possession and use of the ball has been superb this season."
He added: "I don't want to put pressure on anybody, certainly not youngsters, but the good thing about him is that it has been a season of progression, and that's all we ever ask of any of the players here - to look to improve and progress with each and every day's training session."
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