Football Federation Australia and NAB are proud to announce the fourth nominee - and third Central Coast Mariners representative - for the 2011/12 NAB Young Footballer of the Year Award.

Mat Ryan from Central Coast Mariners was voted as the most outstanding U21 player for the month of January following standout performances in four matches.

Ryan kept three clean sheets in January – including wins over Melbourne Heart, Sydney FC and Melbourne Victory.

Ryan won the NAB Young Footballer of the Year award last Hyundai A-League season for his standout debut campaign between the posts for the Central Coast Mariners.

This season Ryan will again be in the mix and will aim to be the first player to win the award in consecutive seasons.

Determined by a panel of football experts the NAB Young Footballer of the Year – January nominee, Ryan is currently in Dubai with the Qantas Australian U23 team preparing for their Olympic qualifier matches this month.

Ryan is the fourth nominated player to be announced for the NAB Young Footballer of the Year award following James Brown’s October nomination, and teammates Bernie Ibini and Mustafa Amini’s respective November and December nominations.

The consistently improving goalkeeper will be joined by a further two players in February and March to qualify to be named the NAB Young Footballer of the Year at the Hyundai A-League Awards in 2012.

The overall winner will receive a $10,000 personal investment portfolio, a NAB Private Client Manager to assist with a range of banking and financial services, and the NAB Young Footballer of the Year Award.

To aid the development of future football stars via NAB have generously donated a $3,000 equipment pack that will go to Ryan’s chosen junior football institution, Westfield Sports High.