The Manchester United defender is currently favourite to scoop the prestigious prize and edge out team-mates Ryan Giggs and Cristiano Ronaldo.

It is easy to understand why. Quite apart from his stellar performances in United's record-breaking defence, Vidic has also been devastating in attack.

His opener in the Champions League win over Inter Milan was the Serbian's sixth of the season, a tally which also includes the first goal against Chelsea in January and a late strike to beat Sunderland a month earlier.

Yet, when he looks around the Premier League at the competition he faces to be crowned number one, the 27-year-old would be happy just to be mentioned in dispatches.

"Just to be a candidate as player of the year would be a big honour, when you consider the players who are here," he said.

"I have scored goals, so maybe people are thinking about that. We have also kept a lot of clean sheets and certain individuals have been praised, including me, so that might be part of it too.

"It has been a good year for me and I am happy with the contribution I have made to the team.

"But more importantly I hope everyone can see the improvement I have made.

"All the players here are the same. They don't want to stay still, they want to get better and better."

Vidic has his own personal reasons for wanting to get one over on Liverpool at Old Trafford tomorrow.

Most observers feel Rafael Benitez's side will be out of the title race if they fail to win.

It is a view Vidic agrees with, although after being sent off at Anfield earlier in the season, when the champions suffered the first of only two defeats this term, he has a more obvious desire for revenge.

"It was not good to get a red card," he admitted.

"It was for two yellows and it was the end of the game but still, it was not a nice feeling."

As a lifelong Red Star Belgrade fan, Vidic knows what the intense atmosphere likely to be in evidence tomorrow is all about.

It was the same back home when Partizan turned up to play. Yet even in Serbia, the fans know what it means when United and Liverpool square up.

"It is the biggest game you can have," he said.

"Even before I came here I knew how big it was, everyone in Serbia does. It is not just a derby for England, it is for the whole world.

"Everyone dreams about being involved and I am happy to have that chance."

Vidic does not feel United are any more relaxed because of their position at the Premier League summit.

However, he does feel they can go into the contest free of pressure, a claim that cannot be made by Liverpool.

"Both teams have confidence from the matches they played in the Champions League this week," observed Vidic.

"We have less pressure on us because we have the points. But we are not relaxed. We will be ready."