Harry Kane leads December Player of the Month nominees

Tottenham Hotspur striker Harry Kane leads the eight-man shortlist for the Premier League Player of the Month award for December.

The England international rounded off a record-breaking 2017 with eight goals in the final month of the year, including back-to-back hat-tricks against Burnley and Southampton.

Liverpool pair Roberto Firmino and Mohamed Salah played a key part in the Reds' unbeaten December, while Jesse Lingard enjoyed his best run of form in a Manchester United shirt and is also up for the gong.

There are also nominations for West Ham United attacker Marko Arnautovic who, like Lingard, netted five goals for his side, and Riyad Mahrez was equally impressive for Leicester City as their resurgence gathered speed.

Chelsea wing-back Marcos Alonso and Manchester City centre-back Nicolas Otamendi complete the shortlist, with the winner to be announced on January 12.