New Liverpool defender Martin Skrtel has been named Slovakia Player of the Year for 2007.

Skrtel signed in at Anfield last month from Zenit St Petersburg and made his full league debut on Saturday as Liverpool ran out 3-0 winners over Sunderland.

And three years after being named his country's most promising player he has now won his nation's premier footballing award.

"I am grateful for this award," he said. "I had a fantastic year but winning the Russian title with Zenit was more important for me.

"This is my most valuable individual success."