Cristiano Ronaldo is delighted to have earned his second successive Premiership Player of the Month award after scoring seven goals in six outings and lighting up the league over the festive period.

The 21-year-old has been in scintillating form of late and is an integral member of Sir Alex Ferguson’s team. This latest accolade follows on from November’s trophy and comes barely a week after he was named Portugal’s Sportsman of the Year for 2006.

"I am really pleased to win this award for the second month in a row," Ronaldo told ManUtd.com. "December was a busy and crucial period for us. The whole team is playing well at the moment and I am enjoying every minute of it. Let's hope we can continue our good work."

Ronaldo becomes only the third player in the Premiership's history to win the award in successive months after Arsenal's Dennis Bergkamp in 1997 and Robbie Fowler in 1996.

He began the month by earning a penalty in the 2-1 win over Middlesbrough, then grabbed a goal himself in a 3-1 victory in the Manchester Derby, before an incredible run where he scored braces in the victories over Aston Villa, Wigan and Reading.

The Portuguese winger now has 12