Anthony Martial
Anthony Martial has been named Barclays Premier League player of the month for September after making an immediate impact at Manchester United after joining at the end of the transfer window.
The French teenager joined Old Trafford from Monaco for an initial £36million and scored three goals in the month. That fee could rise to £58million if he continues to succeed.
Martial came off the bench and netted on his debut against Liverpool at Old Trafford in a 3-1 win and then scored twice in the 3-2 win away at Southampton.
The teenager beat United colleague Daley Blind, Watford striker Odion Ighalo, Tottenham keeper Hugo Lloris, West Ham schemer Dimitri Payet and Leicester City attacker Jamie Vardy to the award.
Martial was a virtual unknown player when he moved to Old Trafford on deadline day but by the end of the month everyone knew who he was after the impact in his first month – and while his transfer fee was an initial £36m, it could rise to as much as £58m with various add-ons.
Martial came off the bench against Liverpool on September 12 and with almost his first touch in the game, went on a brilliant solo run and finish past Reds keeper Simon Mignolet.
He followed that up with a double against Southampton at St Mary’s as United won 3-2 in what was his first Premier League start for the club.
It is the first time a United player has earned the accolade since Robin van Persie back in April 2013 and Martial becomes the 33rd United player to win the award since its inception in August 1994.
And he follows Swansea City’s Andre Ayew was the previous recipient of Barclays’ monthly prize in August.
But bizarrely, Martial was pipped to United’s own player of the month award by midfielder Juan Mata.
Mata pipped his team-mate by just two per cent of votes from fans with 44 per cent to Martial’s 42 per cent. However, the French teenager also scooped the PFA Fans’ Player of the Month prize for September.
Martial made his international debut for France in a friendly against Portugal on September 4 soon after his move, but impressed for Monaco last season, when he scored eight goals in 31 appearances.
In a July 2015 study by the Soccerex 20 Football Value Index, Martial was ranked the 17th most valuable under-21 player in Europe at £11.6m.
Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino was named manager of the month for the second time in his Premier League career – his previous time was as manager as Southampton back in January 2013.
The award comes after three straight victories over Sunderland, Crystal Palace and Manchester City and Spurs remain unbeaten since the opening day of the season. — DailyMail