History-making Leeds United star nominated for Premier League award with West Ham and Man City rivals
Noah Okafor has been in red-hot form for Leeds United.
Leeds United’s Noah Okafor has been nominated for April’s Premier League Player of the Month following a red-hot period of form.
Okafor registered three goals and one assist during the month to help Leeds take seven points from a possible nine. Daniel Farke’s side recorded back-to-back wins for the first time this season against Manchester United and Wolves before drawing 2-2 at Bournemouth last week.
A 2-1 victory at Old Trafford was Leeds’ first in the league since 1981 and came courtesy of a first-half Okafor brace. The Swiss winger reacted quickly to finish a Jayden Bogle cross before his deflected volley put the away side two goals up inside 29 minutes, a lead they just about kept hold off against their 10-man hosts.
Leeds then came flying out the blocks against Wolves the following weekend. Okafor set up James Justin’s bicycle kick opener before producing a smart finish after a devastating counter-attack less than 90 seconds later. Dominic Calvert-Lewin then scored an added-time penalty to secure a big 3-0 win.
Okafor then featured at the Vitality Stadium as Leeds twice came from behind to draw 2-2 against Bournemouth. And the 25-year-old has been rewarded for his efforts with a place on the eight-man April Player of the Month shortlist.
Key players from some in-form relegation rivals are on the shortlist, including West Ham captain Jarrod Bowen who registered four assists as his side also took seven points from three games. Bowen’s defensive teammate Konstantinos Mavropanos is also nominated thanks to his two goals and strong defensive showing.
Nottingham Forest’s Morgan Gibbs-White makes the shortlist, thanks mainly to his match-winning second-half hat-trick against Burnley. The attacking midfielder also registered a goal and an assist in a 5-0 win at Sunderland last weekend.
Manchester City pair Nico O’Reilly and Rayan Cherki have also been nominated for the Premier League award, as has Bournemouth midfielder Alex Scott who was excellent against Leeds. Voting is open until 12pm on Monday, May 4 and will be combined with judgement from a panel of experts to decide the winner.
Noah Okafor aiming to join one-man Leeds United winners list
Okafor will hope to join one Leeds teammate in being named Premier League Player of the Month. Striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin claimed the award in December following an incredible run of six goals in five appearances.
Those goals contributed to a brilliant festive month as Leeds went unbeaten in five, thumping Chelsea and Crystal Palace alongside draws against Liverpool, Brentford and Sunderland. Calvert-Lewin scored in each and every game through December, netting twice in the 4-1 victory over Palace.
Okafor is a doubt to continue his sensational form when Leeds host managerless Burnley on Friday night. The Swiss international picked up a calf knock during Sunday’s FA Cup defeat to Chelsea but Farke hinted at optimism his attacking talisman and fellow uncertainty Jaka Bijol would be okay.
"Noah Okafor got a hit on his calf, there's a little question mark," said Farke. "Jaka Bijol is dealing with some problems with his hip flexor. I hope to have both available but I can't tell you if they will be."