Comeback king Parker is fans' player of year

Parker: "I don't think I ever lost hope that I could make it at international level" (GETTY IMAGES)

The Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Scott Parker has been voted the England supporters' player of the year, just 12 months after he returned from an exile from the England team of more than four years.

Parker, 31, was brought back into the fold against Denmark in February of last year having not played for his country for five years before then. He has gone on to win seven more caps and establish himself as a key player in the side.

Parker, who finished ahead of Joe Hart (second) and Ashley Young in a vote on the Football Association website, said: "I don't think I ever lost hope that I could make it at international level. I probably crammed in a lot in one year, because it's only been this year that I have got in the side and established myself in the squad. I never lost hope, I realised time was ticking and I'm pleased the year's gone the way it has."