Chris Wood

Wood, who plays for Leeds is one of three finalists along with Newcastle forward Dwight Gayle and Brighton winger Anthony Knockaert.

25 year old Wood, who will lead his country against Fiji in their World Cup qualifier in Wellington tonight, has scored 24 league goals this season.

Gayle has 21 goals from 28 league games since joining leaders Newcastle from Crystal Palace.

Former Leicester man Knockaert has scored 13 goals to help Chris Hughton's side to second in the table.

The awards will be presented in London on April 9th.

Wood scored six goals in four Championship games in January.

Wood, 25, went into this season after a solid if unspectacular first campaign with Leeds, and fans were expecting a better return than 13 goals in 36 league appearances.

He's emerged as one of the leading strikers in the Championship, scoring 18 goals in 29 league games.

Wood's total tally for the season stands at 21 goals in 33 games this season.

After winning the award, Wood took to Twitter to thank everybody who voted for him, saying he was "very honoured and privileged" to have won the award.

PNG once again will create history in football when meeting the four-time OFC champion New Zealand.

PNG captain David Muta said reaching the final was a special achievement and a dream come true for football in Papua New Guinea; it paved the way for other greater challenges for football in the country.

“I’m so excited. It was my first time leading the boys from PNG into the final and that means a lot. I think it’s going to be a really big challenge against New Zealand, but we have to stand strong and walk together as a team for the next game,” said Muta.

The 24-year-old, who was the youngest member of New Zealand’s 2010 FIFA World Cup squad in South Africa, says playing in the Oceania region is never easy.

“Island football is something you can only experience yourself, people usually don’t realise how difficult it can be until they try it.

“With the heat and the pitches it’s totally different from everything you experienced before as a professional,” Wood says.

“You have to adjust to it and take different measures, but it’s always a great campaign and I’m looking forward to it.”