The balloting for Manchester United’s first Player of the Month award of 2022 is now open.
After a difficult begin to the brand new yr, whilst Wolves got here farfar from Old Trafford with all 3 points, Ralf Rangnick’s facet completed January strongly, with consecutive Premier League wins over Brentford and West Ham making sure the Reds ended the month withinside the pinnacle 4.
Progression to the Emirates FA Cup fourth spherical turned into additionally secured, after a slender 1-zero win over Aston Villa in M16.
That victory turned into observed up with a difficult 2-2 draw at Villa Park withinside the league 5 days later.Although it turned into disappointing to allow a -aim lead slip that day, there have been nevertheless some of magnificent character performances, as there were throughout the month.
Diogo Dalot and Raphael Varane have starred on the returned because the Reds have persisted the protecting development visible in December, at the same time as Fred has set up himself as a innovative no.eight in Rangnick’s new four-three-three system, supporting 3 of United’s seven desires in January.
However, we’ve settled on a 4-guy shortlist for the Player of the Month prize, beginning with a person who’s bidding for a 3rd consecutive win…
DAVID DE GEA:
five appearances, 2 easy sheetsThe victor for November and December turned into yet again at his excellent, making 22 saves throughout 4 league games.
That tally approach he has now stopped greater pictures than another keeper withinside the pinnacle flight this season.
While De Gea’s heroics went unrewarded as Wolves nicked a past due winner at the start of the month, the Spaniard turned into a one-guy wall all through the primary 1/2 of at Brentford, maintaining the Bees out earlier than United blew the house facet away after the break.
David had a quieter sport on the weekend whilst West Ham got here to town, however nevertheless needed to be on his feet to save you Varane inadvertently setting the ball into his personal net.
BRUNO FERNANDES:
five appearances, 2 Desires After a quiet couple of months via way of means of his lofty standards, Bruno turned into returned to his inspirational excellent withinside the month he celebrated years as a United participant.
His brace at the same time as sporting the captain’s armband at Villa turned into a private highlight, regardless of the 27-yr-vintage insisting after the draw that desires and assists supposed not anything if the crew didn’t win.
Days later, he laid on decisive moves for Mason Greenwood and Marcus Rashford in west London and this time Fernandes and United have been capable of have a good time the victory.
ANTHONY ELANGA:
five appearances, 1 aim Elanga began out January as an effect alternative and ended it being serenaded via way of means of the Old Trafford trustworthy after a 3rd consecutive Reds start.
The Sweden young people global has made the maximum of the threat given to him via way of means of Rangnick and turned into unfortunate now no longer to make it directly to the scoresheet all through the 2-2 draw with Villa.
He induced Matty Cash, the Villa right-returned, issues thru that sport and turned into retained for the experience to Brentford, in which he opened the scoring with a well-taken header, after flicking the ball up and above Bees’ keeper Jonas Lossl. You may not forestall him in case you dare!
SCOTT MCTOMINAY:
four appearances, 1 aim McTominay is rapid turning into one of the first names at the teamsheet in Rangnick’s facet.
Scott has embraced his position as Ralf’s ‘no.6’, sitting at the back of Fred and Fernandes withinside the midfield, and he turned into arguably United’s excellent outfield participant whilst coming back from a one-in shape suspension at Brentford.
Prior to that, he’d nodded in an early winner to knock Steven Gerrard’s Villa out of the FA Cup – the second one yr in a row Scott has headed domestic the most effective aim of a 3rd-spherical tie at Old Trafford.