A trio of foreign players headline the nominees for the December A-League Player of the Month, with Ulises Dávila, Diego Castro and Adam Le Fondre rewarded for their form in the final month of 2019.
In the W-League, one of the competition’s most exciting young footballers, 17-year-old midfielder Kyra Cooney-Cross joins Melbourne City’s Aivi Luik and Melbourne Victory goalkeeper Casey Dumont as the December contenders for the peer-voted accolade.
The PFA Player of the Month award nominees are selected by a panel of former players and leading media figures, with the winner voted on by the players of each respective league.
PFA members will vote on the six nominees this week.
In his first season in the A-League, Phoenix’s Mexican midfielder Dávila was central to Wellington Phoenix’s red-hot run of form during December.
The 28-year-old netted in Wellington’s four consecutive wins during December, helping to lift the New Zealand club into fourth position on the A-League ladder.
A picture of consistency with the Sky Blues, Le Fondre has been the league’s most effective striker this season, bagging 13 goals in 13 games, as Sydney has consolidated top position on the A-League ladder.
December was Le Fondre’s most prolific period, with the Englishman netting no less than seven times in the team’s four matches, including a double against Western United, a hat-trick in a 5-1 demolition of Brisbane Roar and a crucial goal against second-placed Melbourne City.
The ever-reliable midfield maestro Diego Castro scored three of his four goals this season in a profitable month, in which his team secured four wins and netted 14 goals. The ever-green 38-year-old continues to impress for the resurgent reigning Premiers.
Rising star Kyra Cooney-Cross has continued her impressive form with Western Sydney Wanderers, adding a PFA Player of the Month nomination to her W-League’s Young Footballer of the month award for November.
The teenager has demonstrated consistency throughout this season with a standout December, linking well between defence and attack as the Young Matilda continues to show class that belies her years.
Cooney-Cross will, however, confront strong opposition from Melbourne City FC’s experienced Matildas midfielder Aivi Luik, who has been vital in propelling Rado Vidosic’s outfit to the W-League summit. Luik was a commanding presence in defensive midfield for City in December, leading the team for interceptions and aerial dules won.
Another Melbourne-based player, Casey Dumont, is the final nominee for the Player of the Month award, with a standout performance against Brisbane Roar a particular highlight during December.
Dumont accumulated an impressive 18 saves in December including a crucial penalty save (her third of the season) against Perth Glory in Round 7 that helped her team gain a crucial away win.
