Defender Harry Maguire is among six players nominated for the Premier League Player of the Month award for November 2023-2024.
The Man Utd centre-back will compete for the award with goalkeeper Thomas Kaminski (Luton), midfielder Jeremy Doku (Man City), Marcus Tavernier (Bournemouth), Anthony Gordon (Newcastle) and striker Raheem Sterling (Chelsea).
Maguire thanked the audience after Man Utd beat Luton in the 12th round of the Premier League at Old Trafford, Manchester on November 11, 2023. Photo: Reuters
Man Utd were the only team to win all three Premier League games without conceding a goal in November, and Maguire was outstanding in all three. He played 90 minutes in all three games, and was named man of the match in the win over Luton. And in the win over Fulham, he was praised by manager Erik ten Hag for "showing leadership qualities both on and off the ball".
Maguire's biggest rival for the award is Sterling, according to One Football . The 29-year-old striker scored two goals and assisted once in Chelsea's three games, although the home team only earned four points.
Maguire has never won the Premier League Player of the Month award. The last time a defender was named was Liverpool defender Joel Matip in February 2022.
The Premier League homepage rated Maguire as having "returned to impressive form" in recent times. Last season, he was considered the team's fourth centre-back. He made many mistakes and was widely criticized in the media. In the summer of 2023, he was stripped of the captaincy and almost pushed to West Ham. At the last minute, the 30-year-old centre-back was determined to stay to compete for a position and prove himself.
Despite making a few mistakes early in the season, Maguire has improved in the last two months and has taken over Raphael Varane's starting spot. The England centre-back said his "patience has paid off".
The Premier League's monthly award began in 1994-95, with Sergio Aguero and Harry Kane sharing the record seven wins. Only two defenders have won the award more than once, goalkeeper Tim Flowers and defender Trent Alexander-Arnold, both of whom have won it twice.
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