Revealed: January's Player of the Month nominees

Thursday 30 January 2020 16:00

Four players have been nominated for Manchester United’s Player of the Month award for January.

In a month in which the Reds kept five clean sheets in nine matches, including in Emirates FA Cup ties against Wolves (both the initial game and the replay) and Tranmere, two defenders and two midfielders are up for our monthly accolade.

Scroll down to discover our four nominees, and how you can vote...

FRED

The Brazilian, who was narrowly pipped to December’s award by Marcus Rashford, had another solid month in the middle of the park for United, starting seven of our games in all competitions and being introduced as a substitute in the other two. The former Shakhtar Donetsk man’s standout game probably came in defeat, against Liverpool at Anfield in the Premier League, although he also starred in our 1-0 victory at the Etihad Stadium to close out the month.

Player of the Month: January nominees
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer says

"I’m very pleased with Fred. He's a top, top performer. All the supporters can see now why we believe in him. He covers every blade of grass on the pitch and wins challenges."

HARRY MAGUIRE

January 2020 was a month our summer signing will remember for a long, long time. Maguire, who only missed the Carabao Cup semi-final first leg against Manchester City, was named club captain after Ashley Young’s departure to Internazionale. The 26-year-old then struck his long-awaited first goal for the Reds, although it perhaps wasn’t the type of effort many fans expected! With 10 minutes of our FA Cup fourth-round tie against Tranmere gone, and on a difficult pitch, Harry waltzed forward with the ball before unleashing an unstoppable shot into the top-right corner. Check it out below...

Video
WATCH: Maguire's first goal for the Reds, against Tranmere.

NEMANJA MATIC

The Serbian, who featured sparingly in the opening five months of the season, has become an integral part of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s midfield in the absence of Paul Pogba and Scott McTominay. The 31-year-old started eight of our nine games during January, coming on as a substitute in the semi-final first leg against Manchester City and helping United get back in the tie. In the second leg, Matic struck only his fourth Reds goal and put in a commanding performance in midfield, before being (harshly) sent off for a second bookable offence late on.

Video
WATCH: Nemanja Matic's strike gives United victory at the Etihad Stadium.

BRANDON WILLIAMS

The teenager continues to impress during his first United campaign, and this is his second Player of the Month nomination of the season – he was also up for the November award. After sitting out the defeat to Arsenal on New Year’s Day, Williams then started seven of our next eight games, standing out in the 4-0 Premier League win over Norwich City, when he won the penalty for Marcus Rashford’s second goal. He was deployed on the left of a back five in tough away games at Liverpool and Manchester City, acquitting himself well against difficult opponents in Mohamed Salah and Riyad Mahrez.

Player of the Month: January nominees
Brandon Williams says

“It’s a really proud thing for me and my family. I know what I’ve achieved but I want to keep on playing and play as many games as I can for this club."

HOW TO VOTE

The poll is now open on our Official App, which is free to download.

Be quick to vote - the poll closes at midday on Saturday, prior to the match against Wolves in the Premier League.

Recommended: