It’s been a difficult start to the season for Manchester United with Ruben Amorim’s side still failing to adapt to his methods and languishing in the bottom half of the Premier League table after six games.
Additionally, the shock League Cup defeat to Grimsby Town left United with just three fixtures to play in the month of September which yielded just three points from the three league games.
The hard fought win against Chelsea at Old Trafford was sandwiched in between drab defeats to Manchester City and Brentford with the pressure now mounting on the shoulders of Amorim.
Therefore, picking a Player of the Month will be a challenge for the fans after the club announced the three players shortlisted for the award earlier today.
Bruno Fernandes
Despite not enjoying his best form this season, Fernandes is almost a guarantee for nomination month-on-month with the captain typically behind the fleeting good moments United are enjoying these days.
His performance in the solitary win against Chelsea is the sole reason for his inclusion this time around after grabbing the opening goal and looking like somewhere close to his best.
Sliding in from close range gave United a deserved lead in the first half of the fixture and fittingly marked his 200th Premier League appearance with his 100th goal for the club.
However, poor showings in the Derby and recently at Brentford have underlined his struggles in the deeper role this year but he does continue to look the most likely to make something happen for the underperforming Reds.
Patrick Dorgu
The Danish wing-back was another who enjoyed his best game of the month against Enzo Maresca’s side, grabbing his first assist in the league for the club by setting up Bruno’s aforementioned opener with a clever header across goal.
Additionally, Dorgu played his part in Casemiro’s eventual match winning header by keeping the ball alive in the Chelsea box which culminated in the goal that secured the much needed three points.
Benjamin Sesko also has Dorgu to thank for the part he played in him opening his account for United with his goal against Brentford owing much to the Dane’s good work down the left hand side.
Dorgu was also pretty much ever present for United in September, only making way for Joshua Zirkzee in the dying embers at the weekend as United pushed for an equalizer.
Benjamin Sesko
Sesko hasn’t been short of his critics since his debut on the opening day but has shown signs of life in recent weeks, eventually smashing home his first goal on his sixth appearance for the club.
After a shocking start against Brentford, Sesko breathed life into the game as he lashed home from close range at the third time of asking, to half the arrears and give United a foothold they ultimately couldn’t build on in the second half.
His involvement in the game changing moment of Robert Sanchez’s early red card in the Chelsea win was a stark reminder of his ability in the air and left United fans wondering why we do not use this obvious weapon more often.
Furthermore, some neat touches in build up play across the three games show that his confidence is slowly growing as he adapts to life and Old Trafford and probably nudges him as slight favourite to follow in the footsteps of Bryan Mbeumo, who won the award last month.
Featured image Alex Livesey via Getty Images
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Conner Botterill
Conner Botterill has been with The Peoples Person for two years. A keen match-going red with degrees in Sport and Journalism and Philosophy and Psychology, Conner still believes he has a chance of making United’s first team through his 5-a-side career.
