As the race for the Premier League title enters its final furlong and after the Grand Slam Sunday last weekend which has seemingly provided us with a two horse race, here at Football FanCast.com we are compiling a Premier League Select XI for the current campaign. Following the debates on the back five, we turn our attentions to the centre of the park and address a role which has evolved since Claude Makelele's move to Stamford Bridge - the defensive midfielder.

Michael Carrick

Indeed it would be easy to include the above Chelsea midfielder and his ability in this holding role is unquestionable, but the Frenchman has been limited to 14 Premier League appearances this season and has not consistently displayed the panache that made him a cult figure in such a position. Instead, the 35 year-old's midfield counterpart at title rivals Manchester United receives the first nomination.

Many have placed question marks over the ability of the former West Ham midfielder since his to Old Trafford from White Hart Lane in the summer of 2006, in particular the transfer fee that exceeded many critics' valuations. This season however I feel Michael has portrayed natural ability in the middle of the park, and has often been the unnoticed figure in United's attacking flair. Allowing his fellow midfielders to create the tempo for Alex Ferguson's offensive approach, which was notably lacking from Fabio Capello's side in Paris on Wednesday night, the 26 year-old has interestingly kept Owen Hargreaves out of the United line-up - a man that was included in the latest England squad.

His transfer fee will unlikely ever be justified, but his tenacity and creative vision in the middle of the park has been instrumental once again in Alex Ferguson's quest for the Premiership title. 
 

Javier Mascherano

Relief at last for the Argentinean perhaps as this time his name does not appear in the media purely in controversial fashion. No, despite his dismissal, and all that followed it at the weekend - which many would argue was over-protection for the men in black - the Jefecito's (little chief) talents on a football pitch are worthy of critical appraise. Finally a Liverpool player, the 23 year-old is perhaps the definition of tenacity.

He often reminds me of your Sunday League defensive midfielder, scrapping, screaming, but winning every tackle in true mud-splashing fashion. Fortunately, the quality of Premier League fields, and the flair that the South American possesses, means that the comparisons with pub football stops there.

Indeed his skill with a football and his distribution of it, for me, superbly accompanies his tenacious defensive qualities. His display in Liverpool's latest Champions League final was the finest example of Mascherano's talents, if he doesn't ask any more questions of footballing officials he may be able to look forward to an appearance in this season's equivalent.

Mathieu Flamini

I'm reminded of a gravy advert as I write this nomination as I feel we have saved the best for last. Surprising for some, maybe, but the Frenchman deserves an Oscar for the ‘Best Supporting Role' for his displays alongside Cesc Fabregas. Arsene Wenger has been happy to describe the above two as his best midfield pairing that he has had at the club and though I don't deny his motivational purposes, a hint of such a suggestion from the Professor is still of worthy note.

The recent development of the now 24 year-old perhaps deserves the most attention. Central midfield boots at Arsenal are hard to fill, but the form of Flamini has surpassed many media critics' expectations. A surprise exclusion from this week's French squad, the former Marseille midfielder is not afraid to enter the opposition's box, though it is his more reserved defensive attributes that are the reason for his name being listed within. An extremely intelligent footballer, if you have the pleasure of watching the Frenchman at the Emirates, I suggest you take not of his pass completion rate.

From the anchorman, to the ‘Makelele-role', to the holding midfielder - choose the term you prefer, and then choose the man that fits best into our Premiership XI jigsaw for the present season.

Click Here to see the nominations for the Premier League's Keeper of the season

Click Here to see the nominations for the Premier League's Left back of the season

Click Here to see Part One of the Premier League's centre back nominations

Click Here to see Part Two of the Premier League's centre back nominations

Click Here to see the nominations for the Premier League's right back of the season