De Gea up for Premier League award

The Spaniard played in each of the Reds’ four games in the competition, keeping up his ever-present record in the 2021/22 top-flight season, as we recovered from defeat at home to Wolves to move into the Champions League qualification spots for the first time since October.

De Gea recorded a league-high 22 saves during the first month of 2022, which was five more than any other goalkeeper.

Eight of those stops came in last Wednesday’s 3-1 win over Brentford, as United rallied after a first-half onslaught from the home side to secure an important victory.

David had a quieter game at the weekend against West Ham but was still called upon to preserve his clean sheet late on, when the ball deflected off defender Raphael Varane and was seemingly headed for the net before our no.1 turned it behind.

That save proved crucial as, just minutes later, Marcus Rashford scored the winning goal with virtually the last kick of the game at the other end.

Although De Gea has been included as the goalkeeper in the PFA’s Team of the Year five times since signing for United 11 years ago, he is yet to be named Premier League Player of the Month.

Indeed, this accolade tends to go to attacking players - the last goalkeeper to win it was Southampton’s Fraser Forster, back in February 2016.

David is up against some stiff competition this time around, with Jack Harrison of Leeds United and West Ham United’s Jarrod Bowen having scored four and three goals respectively during January.

Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City) and Joao Moutinho (Wolves) also had impressive months, as did their fellow midfielder James Ward-Prowse (Southampton) who completes the shortlist.

You can vote for David now but please be quick, as the poll closes at 12:00 GMT on Monday 31 January.

Look out for your chance to vote for United's Player of the Month from Saturday.