Vote for United's March Player of the Month

Tuesday 03 April 2018 16:58

It was a tough selection as always, but we've whittled our list of nominees for Manchester United's Player of the Month award for March down to three.

The Reds opened the month in sensational style with a dramatic late comeback win over Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park, before Liverpool were put to the sword at Old Trafford by a fine first-half double from Marcus Rashford.
 
A disappointing defeat to Sevilla in the UEFA Champions League followed, but Jose Mourinho's men bounced back by reaching the semi-finals of the Emirates FA Cup after defeating Brighton, before a routine Premier League win over Swansea made it four wins from five during March.
 
Several players narrowly missed out on a place in our three-man shortlist, but the final trio in the running for this month's award are Romelu Lukaku, Nemanja Matic and Ashley Young.
 

Read our summary of their performances before casting your vote via our official Twitter account...

ROMELU LUKAKU
Appearances/Goals: 5 / 4
 
The in-form Belgian sensation has enjoyed a superb month, netting in four of United's five fixtures and becoming the youngest-ever foreign player to reach 100 Premier League goals - at the age of just 24. Rom fired home a nerveless equaliser at Crystal Palace, which laid the platform for United's late winner, and helped United see off Brighton and Swansea at Old Trafford by poaching the opening goal in both matches. It's the third time Lukaku has been nominated for this accolade in his debut season at Old Trafford, during which he's accumulated an impressive 26 goals thus far. But, astonishingly, he's yet to win our monthly award.

Jose Mourinho said: "He's an important guy for me, he's one of the guys that I trust, that I love the attitude, that I love the character. He's a sergeant, you know. His attitude is phenomenal. For me, it's not just about the goals he scores, but what he brings to the team – that spirit."

Lukaku on reaching 100 Premier League goals: "It's not bad, but I want to add trophies to the personal stuff. I'm a team player so I put the team ahead of myself. I'm a striker and I know there are a lot more goals in me, and hopefully I can add a trophy as well to the goals."

Vote for him because: His remarkable goalscoring consistency has been the motor behind United's season so far. 
Goals: United 2 Swansea City 0 Video

Goals: United 2 Swansea City 0

Watch the goals from Lukaku and Alexis that bagged a confident 2-0 win over Swansea City...

NEMANJA MATIC
Appearances/Goals: 5 / 2
 
The only outfield player to feature in every Premier League game so far this season, Nemanja Matic has been Jose Mourinho's midfield rock. The Serbian has been turning in disciplined, mature performances on a weekly basis since the start of the season, but his staggering last-gasp volley in the 3-2 win at Crystal Palace finally delivered the headlines his consistency has merited. The strike was his first for United, and he quickly followed it with a header against Brighton to seal our place in the FA Cup semi-finals. Matic was named Man of the Match in both games – taking his tally of star-man awards to five – and he played every minute of United's five matches during the month of March.

Nemanja said: "I try to do my best for the team and for the club, and I hope the supporters and the club are happy with my work. I will continue to work hard to improve, and we will see at the end of the season where we are. But, as I said, I will give my best, and we will see if that's going to be enough."

Mourinho on Matic's stunner at Palace: "He scored with Chelsea an amazing goal like this one at Goodison Park [against Everton]. He scored a winning goal in Lisbon in the Champions League against Sporting. He's scored a few goals – not many – but he's scored a few goals."

Vote for him because: He's adding goals to his ever-present intelligence and discipline.
Our epic comeback at Palace in 2018 Video

Our epic comeback at Palace in 2018

Watch all of the goals and relive the drama from our 2017/18 win at Selhurst Park, including that Matic stunner...

ASHLEY YOUNG
Appearances/Goals: 4 (1) / 0
 
Our third and final nominee earned widespread plaudits earlier in the month when he managed to do what few Premier League defenders have been able to during 2017/18: stop Liverpool's Mohamed Salah. Old Trafford didn't hear a peep from the Egyptian phenomenon after Marcus Rashford's brace had given United a two-goal lead, and that was largely down to Young's tireless harrying and fierce powers of concentration. The left-back started four of United's five games during March and also came on at half-time during the FA Cup win over Brighton, assisting the Reds' second goal with a dangerous cross that was nodded home by Nemanja Matic. The 32-year-old has won the award once already this season, in November, and his rebirth as a full-back appears to be going from strength to strength.

Jose Mourinho on Young's performance against Liverpool: "Everybody did a good job but you are right, Ashley against Salah, we prepared the game very well. Ashley has great experience."

Vote for him because: He's a vital, high-energy presence for United at both ends of the field.