Super Eagles of Nigeria and Watford FC striker Odion Ighalo has won the Premier League player of the month of December.
Ighalo won the award alongside his manager Quique Sanchez Flores who was named Premier League manager for the month of December.
Ighalo scored a total of five goals in the month, including two in the Vicarage Road win over Liverpool, to take his tally for the season to 13, tied for third in the Premier League behind Romelu Lukaku and Jamie Vardy.
A happy Ighalo said: “It was a great month for me, but not me alone, for the team as well. We really worked hard and got as many points as we could get. It’s very good for us and we want to keep going.
READ ALSO: EPL Panel, Cahill Deny Ighalo Top Scorer Spot
“When the gaffer took over he really told us what he wanted, and I worked hard in pre-season. I knew the step up from the Championship to the Premier League would be difficult because I was going to meet more experienced defenders and big teams, so I have put a lot of work in, and that has been paying off.
“I am a Watford player. I have a five-year contract, I am happy and the fans love me. I am enjoying my football here and I am not in a hurry to go anywhere.”
Watford won their first three games in the month to climb the table and only lost their unbeaten record just after Christmas when they were beaten 2-1 by Tottenham, a result that came after a memorable 3-0 win over Liverpool and a fine 2-2 draw at Chelsea.
The Hornets have since dropped to 10th on the back of three successive defeats, but coach Sanchez Flores is honoured to be the first manager to claim the prize in the club’s history.
He said: “It’s a big honour for me and I am really pleased.
“This is for all the staff who are working with me and for the players of course. Without them it is impossible to get this award.
“This is also for the fans. They have supported the team a lot. This is all a new experience for me, I am new in the Premier League, but this month has been very special.”
READ ALSO: Watford Pockets £200Million If Ighalo Stays – Deeney
Ighalo beat the likes of Mezut Ozil (Arsenal), Dele Alli (Tottenham), Marko Arnautovic (Stoke City), Romelu Lukaku (Everton) and Riyad Mahrez (Leicester City) to the award.
Swansea midfielder and Black Stars of Ghana vice-captain, won the August edition of the award.
The second runner up at the CAF African best player award, beat Riyad Mahrez, of Leicester City (four goals), David Silva (Man City; one goal, four assists), Aleksandar Kolarov (Man City; one goal, four clean sheets), team-mate Bafetimbi Gomis (four goals) and Manchester United’s Chris Smalling, to the award.
In September, Manchester United Anthony Martial beat Leicester City’s Jamie Vardy (four goals), Dimitri Payet (West Ham; two goals, two assists), Odion Ighalo (Watford; three goals), Hugo Lloris (Tottenham Hotspur; two clean sheets, one goal conceded) and team-mate Daley Blind (one goal; 162 successful passes), to the award.
In October, Leicester City top striker, Jamie Vardy emerged ahead of a six-man shortlist of Arsenal’s Mesut Ozil (one goal, six assists), Oliver Giroud (three goals), Stoke City’s Jack Butland (three clean sheets), Manchester City’s Kevin De Bruyne (one goal, five assists) and Watford’s Odion Ighalo (three goals, two assists).
While in November, Vardy again retained the award beating off competition from Ross Barkley (Everton), Romelu Lukaku (Everton), Harry Kane (Tottenham), Troy Deeney (Watford) and Dejan Lovren (Liverpool) to win the award.
Ighalo clinched the award for the first time having being shortlisted three times in five months.
Ighalo won the award alongside his manager Quique Sanchez Flores who was named Premier League manager for the month of December.
Ighalo scored a total of five goals in the month, including two in the Vicarage Road win over Liverpool, to take his tally for the season to 13, tied for third in the Premier League behind Romelu Lukaku and Jamie Vardy.
Odion Ighalo wins EPL award for the month of December
READ ALSO: EPL Panel, Cahill Deny Ighalo Top Scorer Spot
“When the gaffer took over he really told us what he wanted, and I worked hard in pre-season. I knew the step up from the Championship to the Premier League would be difficult because I was going to meet more experienced defenders and big teams, so I have put a lot of work in, and that has been paying off.
“I am a Watford player. I have a five-year contract, I am happy and the fans love me. I am enjoying my football here and I am not in a hurry to go anywhere.”
Watford won their first three games in the month to climb the table and only lost their unbeaten record just after Christmas when they were beaten 2-1 by Tottenham, a result that came after a memorable 3-0 win over Liverpool and a fine 2-2 draw at Chelsea.
The Hornets have since dropped to 10th on the back of three successive defeats, but coach Sanchez Flores is honoured to be the first manager to claim the prize in the club’s history.
He said: “It’s a big honour for me and I am really pleased.
“This is for all the staff who are working with me and for the players of course. Without them it is impossible to get this award.
“This is also for the fans. They have supported the team a lot. This is all a new experience for me, I am new in the Premier League, but this month has been very special.”
READ ALSO: Watford Pockets £200Million If Ighalo Stays – Deeney
Ighalo beat the likes of Mezut Ozil (Arsenal), Dele Alli (Tottenham), Marko Arnautovic (Stoke City), Romelu Lukaku (Everton) and Riyad Mahrez (Leicester City) to the award.
Swansea midfielder and Black Stars of Ghana vice-captain, won the August edition of the award.
The second runner up at the CAF African best player award, beat Riyad Mahrez, of Leicester City (four goals), David Silva (Man City; one goal, four assists), Aleksandar Kolarov (Man City; one goal, four clean sheets), team-mate Bafetimbi Gomis (four goals) and Manchester United’s Chris Smalling, to the award.
In September, Manchester United Anthony Martial beat Leicester City’s Jamie Vardy (four goals), Dimitri Payet (West Ham; two goals, two assists), Odion Ighalo (Watford; three goals), Hugo Lloris (Tottenham Hotspur; two clean sheets, one goal conceded) and team-mate Daley Blind (one goal; 162 successful passes), to the award.
In October, Leicester City top striker, Jamie Vardy emerged ahead of a six-man shortlist of Arsenal’s Mesut Ozil (one goal, six assists), Oliver Giroud (three goals), Stoke City’s Jack Butland (three clean sheets), Manchester City’s Kevin De Bruyne (one goal, five assists) and Watford’s Odion Ighalo (three goals, two assists).
While in November, Vardy again retained the award beating off competition from Ross Barkley (Everton), Romelu Lukaku (Everton), Harry Kane (Tottenham), Troy Deeney (Watford) and Dejan Lovren (Liverpool) to win the award.
Ighalo clinched the award for the first time having being shortlisted three times in five months.
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