…Nigerian also shortlisted for goal of the month honour
Nigerian forward Kelechi Iheanacho is among eight players shortlisted for March 2021’s EA SPORTS Player of the Month award. The Leicester City star’s equaliser against Burnley at the start of the month is also one of the eight spectacular strikes this month that have been shortlisted for the Budweiser Goal of the Month award.
The Nigerian striker stepped up in the absence of injured James Maddison and Harvey Barnes in style, with his first Premier League hat-trick against Sheffield United among his five goals in March. Assisted by Wilfred Ndidi, the former Manchester City star earned a point for the Foxes at Turf Moor March 3 before going to the Amex stadium three days later to score again, bringing Leicester City back into the game after their host, Brighton had shot into an early lead.
Iheanacho will battle four other strikers, two defenders and one goalkeeper for the player of the month award. The Nigerian is however the only one to score five goals among the five shortlisted strikers with his goals helping the Foxes secure seven out of nine available in the three games in which he scored.
England international, Harry Kane had a league-high five goal involvements this month, producing two goals and two assists in a 4-1 win over Crystal Palace before scoring at Aston Villa while ​Jesse Lingard continued his dream start to his loan spell at West Ham United, scoring against Leeds United and getting a goal and an assist versus Arsenal. He was ineligible to face parent club Manchester United in their other March fixture.
Manchester City’s Algerian winger, Riyad Mahrez who has won the award twice scored with a fine finish to help earn a late victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers at the Etihad Stadium this month before finding the net twice at the same ground in a 5-2 win against Southampton while Leandro Trossard was instrumental as Brighton & Hove Albion claimed back-to-back wins to boost their bid for safety, scoring the winner at Southampton before getting a goal and an assist versus Newcastle United.
Iheanacho will be hoping to be crowned player of the month for the first time in his career. The last time a Super Eagles player won the award was in December 2015 when retired Eagle Odion Ighalo was voted the best player in the league.