Nicolas Jackson makes Aston Villa history by winning Premier League Player of the Month
Nicolas Jackson has received the recognition his excellent performances have deserved, as the Aston Villa striker has been awarded the Premier League’s Player of the Month award for October.
He scored four goals in Villa’s four league games last month, netting against Brentford, Fulham and twice versus Manchester City. Jackson is on a scoring streak of six goals in his last six matches going back to mid-September, including one in the recent 4-4 draw with Manchester United.
More than just goals, the 25-year-old has led Villa’s front line brilliantly all season long, but he really kicked into gear in October, with the highlight being his game against Manchester City, as his two goals fired Villa to a 2-1 win, their only league victory at Villa Park this term.
Jackson beat former Villa defender Ezri Konsa, as well as his Arsenal teammate Declan Rice,, Bournemouth’s Evanilson, Brighton’s Luka Vuskovic and Bart Verbruggen, Coventry’s Jack Rudoni and Tottenham’s Jan Paul van Hecke to the award.
The Senegal international had big boots to fill after arriving in a deal worth up to £65m from Chelsea this summer, as he was brought in to replace Ollie Watkins who had been a mainstay in Unai Emery’s sides since the Spaniard took over as Villa manager.
Not only has Jackson been able to successfully replace Watkins, he has arguably provided an immediate upgrade over Villa’s record Premier League goalscorer.
Certainly his goals have been vital, but Jackson’s all-around play in terms of holding the ball up, linking play with teammates, his direct running and tireless work ethic have quickly endeared him to the Villa faithful.
As well as his success in the league, Jackson scored twice in three Champions League matches in October, both coming in a 6-0 win over Fenerbahce.
Remarkably, Jackson is the first Villa player to win this award since Christian Benteke did it back in April 2015.
It is fitting really, as Jackson’s performances are somewhat reminiscent of the one-man shows Benteke would produce up top. The only difference is that now Villa have a quality team around their impressive striker, rather than the poor squad they had a decade ago.
Certainly the club are in a very different place now, enjoying their second Champions League campaign in three years and coming off a Europa League triumph, rather than circling the drain of relegation to the Championship and merely hoping to survive each season.
Jackson is currently away on international duty with Senegal and will look to continue his fine form once Villa return to league action against Sunderland next week.
