The Premier League have released their PL2 Player of the Month contenders for April and Aston Villa’s Rushian Hepburn-Murphy and Jack Clarke both feature on the shortlist.
???????? @RushCMPT and @Jack_Clarke10 are up for April’s U23s Player of the Month award
Hepburn-Murphy has scored six goals in all competitions while Clarke has excelled in the middle ground ⚽️
The winner will be announced at 9.30am on Friday 4th May. Good luck, lads! pic.twitter.com/LVESZtMtKA
— Aston Villa FC (@AVFCOfficial) May 1, 2018
Hepburn-Murphy found the back of the net six times in our four matches across the month, registering a brace against Stoke City, Middlesbrough and Leicester City as we narrowly failed to chase down Blackburn Rovers who finished in the Division 2 top spot and secured automatic promotion this term.
It wasn’t just a stellar end to the league season as we clinched our Play-Off spot, we’ve also booked our place in the Premier League Cup Final with Rushian’s brace against Leicester City helping to set up the Liberty Stadium tie against Swansea City.
Fans who follow this level will know, RHP shows no signs of letting his form slip this month as he powered us to victory over Reading this week in the Play-Off semi-final so he could already be a shoe in for next month’s awards as well.
ICYMI: Our U23s were on ???? last night#PartOfThePride #AVFC pic.twitter.com/FQmhGyDvP2
— Aston Villa FC (@AVFCOfficial) May 2, 2018
Clarke has been acknowledged for his performances in the middle of the park and he too found the net against Leicester City in the semi-final to help us on our way. His overall contribution in attack and helping to protect the backline sees him get the nod.
Jake Doyle Hayes has been brilliant too in MF but Jack has been my choice for most improved #AVFC U23 this season He was superb again against Leicester U23s last Friday night @AVFCU23
— Julie Edmonds (@Julie_Bayley_) May 1, 2018
The PL2 Player of the Month shortlist is drawn up by Under 23 managers who are asked to nominate the best performing opposition player in each of their games across a month.
The winner will be announced next Tuesday (May 8) at 9.30am.
Well looks like it's time for RHM to get a proper first team runout ????????????
— Harvey Hopkins (@harveyhopkins97) May 2, 2018