Man City midfielder Gundogan named player of month

By Muhammed Enes Calli

ANKARA (AA) - Manchester City's German midfielder of Turkish descent Ilkay Gundogan has been named the English Premier League Player of the Month for January.

“Ilkay Gundogan has been rewarded for his brilliant start to 2021 by being named the EA SPORTS Player of the Month for January,“ the Premier League said in a statement on Friday.

German international Gundogan, 30, scored five goals in January to play a key role in Manchester City's six consecutive wins in the league.

The club is now on the top of the table with 50 points and a game in hand, five points ahead of the second-placed Manchester United.

“The highlight of January, it was just the run, the feeling you have inside yourself, that you're so strong at the moment as a team, not just yourself,“ Gundogan said.

Gundogan had joined Manchester City in 2016 from Germany's Borussia Dortmund.

This season Gundogan scored 11 goals in 25 appearances for his team in all competitions -- including the Premier League and UEFA Champions League.

He won the 2018 and 2019 Premier League titles with Manchester City.