Liverpool skipper Steven Gerrard has been named the PFA 2UP Fans' Player of the Month for September.
PFA 2UP Fans' Player of the Month awards for Kightly, Beckford and Thorne too
What a week it's been for Steven Gerrard. The sweet taste of victory over Everton in last Saturday's Merseyside derby...the pride of registering his 100th goal for Liverpool against PSV Eindhoven on Wednesday...and now the honour of being named the PFA 2UP Fans' Player of the Month for September. Phew!
After an injury-delayed start to the season for the Liverpool skipper, the England international is firing on all cylinders now and with the Reds sitting pretty in second place in the Premier League table - and on course to qualify from their Champions League group - all in the Reds' garden is rosy.
Typically of Gerrard, whose stunning strike in the first leg against PSV, marked his return to top form, he didn't want to take all the plaudits the other night, despite reaching the magical century mark. "It was the perfect way to get my 100th goal - but I was equally delighted for Robbie (Keane) getting his first for the club."
Last month the club captain revealed he was playing despite being just 70 or 80 per cent fit following a groin injury. So Manchester City had better watch out now that Gerrard is back to something near 100 per cent.
"I feel good. I've got three or four games under my belt now and I'm confident I'm approaching top form. I am happy with my last two performances and now I'll try to build on that for Sunday."
Manager Rafa Benitez paid tribute to his skipper on becoming the 16th Liverpool player to score 100 goals for the club, and the Spaniard said: "I think he can go on and get 200. One hundred goals is always a very good figure, but it is especially good for a midfielder. He is one of the best offensive midfielders in the world and hopefully he will go on to score many for us in the future."
World class
PFA deputy chief executive Mick McGuire says of Liverpool's inspirational leader: "He is a man who needs no introduction, simply a world class individual match winner extraordinaire who again this season has hit the ground running, scoring two goals in the Champions League fixture versus Marseille and the winner in the game versus Middlesbrough with a stunning shot from outside the penalty area."
The Fans' Player award in the Championship goes to Michael Kightly who, together with fellow wing wizard Matt Jarvis, has been largely responsible for Wolves' fantastic start to the season.
Unfortunately for manager Mick McCarthy both star players have picked up hamstring injuries and they will be sorely missed, although Kightly is not expected to be out as long as his pal, who could be out for three months.
Despite being coveted by a number of Premier League clubs in the summer, Kightly signed a new four-year deal with Wolves and has already rewarded them with some stunning displays, and goals, so far this season. We wish him well with his recovery.
Mick McGuire says: "Wolves' great start to the season, I'm sure the manager would say, is due to all round team effort but one player who consistently shines is Michael in terms of his ability to score goals and his general, all round workrate and technical play, a quality which deserves a position in the Premiership hopefully with his current team."
League One Player of the Month is last year's overall winner, Jermaine Beckford, who is proving to be Leeds' main man again this season - much to the delight of manager Gary McAllister.
Split second magic
The Leeds boss says: "It takes Jermaine just a split second to produce a bit of magic. We keep emphasising to him where he can go and what he can achieve. He drifts in and out of the game and needs to do better at certain aspects of the game, but when he is one-on-one or the ball is played across the face of the goal, he is capable of all sorts of finishing."
Beckford, who was playing non-league football two years ago, also bagged over 20 goals last season, and McAllister is hoping that the 24-year-old can maintain his rich vein of form. "He's come a long way very quickly," he said. "The thing we are trying to get across to him is that quality players and goalscorers, repeat and repeat and repeat, they're not just one-season wonders."
Mick McGuire says: "The League One Player of the Season last season, he has continued where he left off, already scoring 11 goals in league and cup games this season. His all round play suggests he is destined for great things."
Finally, the Fans' Player of the Month award in League Two goes to Peter Thorne who, even at the age of 35, is still doing great things for Bradford, for whom he has an impressive goal every two games ratio.
Thorne has scored goals consistently for previous clubs such as Swindon, Cardiff and Stoke, and he's now doing the same for the Bantams. Mick McGuire says: "It's great to see Peter still going strong at the age of 35 and I'm sure his experience is proving vital to Bradford's promotion bid.
"He scored three goals last month, but his overall contribution has not gone unrecognised by manager Stuart McCall and team-mates alike. Fellow striker Michael Boulding is certainly benefiting from having old head Thorney alongside him."
Vote for your PFA 2UP Fans' Player of Month for the chance to meet your football hero.
VOTE NOW
