Manchester City striker Erling Braut Haaland has been named the Premier League Player of the Month for April.
After receiving the most votes from both the public and a panel of football experts, the 22-year-old picks up his second monthly accolade of the season after receiving the award for the first time in August.
Haaland has fended competition from teammate Kevin De Bruyne as well as Eberechi Eze, Alexander Isak, Diogo Jota, Dominic Solanke, Ollie Watkins and Callum Wilson to win the award.
City's No.9 has enjoyed an exceptional debut season at the Etihad Stadium and April was another month filled with goals for the Norwegian, who recorded six goals and two assists in just four games to help the Citizens climb to the top of the Premier League table.
Haaland scored in all four matches in April, firstly netting braces in 4-1 and 3-1 victories over Southampton and Leicester City respectively, before scoring once and assisting twice in the Citizens' crucial 4-1 home triumph over title rivals Arsenal.
A record-breaking month for Erling Haaland 🌟
— Premier League (@premierleague) May 12, 2023
The unstoppable Man City forward is @EASPORTSFIFA Player of the Month for April 🏆#PLAwards | @ManCity pic.twitter.com/t8pHiM39BV
The striker then equalled the all-time Premier League record for most goals scored by a player in a single season when he found the net in City's 2-1 away victory against Fulham.
Haaland has since broken that record outright this month after scoring his 35th Premier League goal of the season in the 3-0 home win over West Ham United.
"I am really happy to win this award for the second time this season – I am grateful to everyone who voted for me," Haaland told mancity.com.
"We are in such a vital part of the season and winning all of our Premier League games throughout April was important. I am delighted to have helped the team by scoring goals and we just need to keep going until the end.
"Breaking the record for most goals scored in a Premier League season is something I am really proud of, but none of it would have been possible without all of my teammates, the coaches and staff behind the scenes.
© Reuters
"Hopefully, we can continue our strong form until the end of the season so we can make our fans happy."
Just an hour before being announced as the Premier League's POTM winner for April, Haaland was named the 2023 Football Writers' Association Footballer of the Year, receiving a record 82% of the votes from around 800 members.
Haaland is almost certain to come away with this season's Premier League Golden Boot award as he currently sits on 35 goals after 32 matches, nine goals ahead of his nearest challenger Harry Kane in second place.
Haaland, who has scored a total of 51 goals in just 47 games across all competitions this term, will be looking to increase his tally when Man City travel to Goodison Park to face Everton on Sunday.
Oliver Thomas
