Aston Villa defender Ron Vlaar has revealed that he will be voting for Robin van Persie ahead of Luis Suarez for the Player of the Year award.

The pair are favourites for the award alongside Tottenham Hotspur's Gareth Bale, but Vlaar, who is likely to come up against Suarez when Villa host Liverpool this afternoon, has said that it will be his compatriot who will get his vote.

"I think I will vote for Van Persie. You could say it's because he is my mate, but we all could see how good he is even if Suarez has more goals," Vlaar is quoted as saying in the Daily Mail.

"Suarez was top scorer in the Dutch League and, if he can do it here [in the Premier League], it says something about his capabilities

"I think overall, with Manchester United top of the league, [Van Persie] has made the difference. I don't know if there has been a 15-point gap in the past but it is unbelievable."

Vlaar was signed from Feyenoord in 2012 and has since been made captain at the club.