Dominic Solanke has become the first Bournemouth player to be voted as the Premier League’s player of the month.
The 26-year-old striker scored six times in December to take his tally to 12 league goals so far this season, plus one in the Carabao Cup.
Among Solanke’s highlights last month was a first career hat-trick in the Cherries’ 3-2 win away to Nottingham Forest on 23 December.
His impressive form has helped Bournemouth climb to 12th in the table.
The former Chelsea and Liverpool forward, who won one full England cap in 2017, has doubled his league goal tally from last season, when he scored six times in 33 appearances.
He is level in third place with Tottenham’s Son Heung-min in the Premier League top scorers list, two behind Manchester City’s Erling Haaland and Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah.
Bournemouth are in their seventh season in the top flight, but although former boss Eddie Howe earned multiple manager of the month awards, and Charlie Daniels and Jermain Defoe won goal of the month awards, no Cherries player had previously been named as player of the month.
Aston Villa boss Unai Emery was named manager of the month after guiding the club to four wins and two draws from their seven matches in December, including back-to-back victories over Manchester City and Arsenal without conceding a goal
Villa are second in the Premier League, three points behind leaders Liverpool, going into Sunday’s match against Everton at Goodison Park.
“I’m thankful and very proud of our work,” Emery said. “The most important thing is to be consistent, be demanding, and try to improve every day.”
