Brighton & Hove Albion under-23 striker Aaron Connolly has been nominated for September’s Premier League 2 Player of the Month award.
The Irishman was also nominated in August, before losing out to Reading’s Danny Loader, but the 18-year-old’s performances in September have caught the eye of the Premier League’s Football Development Panel again.
Connolly opened the month with a late strike for Simon Rusk’s team in their Checkatrade Trophy game against Luton Town at Kenilworth Road, before firing the winner in Albion’s 2-1 league victory against West Ham United at the Amex.
The forward then helped his team-mates secure a 2-2 draw against Everton on the south coast, as Albion made their debut in the Premier League International Cup.
Connolly’s month ended with a dramatic stoppage-time equaliser at Holmes Park — the striker swivelled inside the penalty area to fire home against Leicester City to make it 2-2 and continue Albion’s unbeaten run.
The nine-man shortlist was decided by the Premier League’s Football Development Panel, after each Premier League 2 manager nominated the best performance by an opposing player in each of their matches throughout the month.
Providing competition for the September Player of the Month award are the following players: Daniel Butterworth (Blackburn Rovers), Louie Sibley (Derby County), Rabbi Matondo (Manchester City), Callum Roberts (Newcastle United), Ryan East (Reading), Benjamin Mbunga-Kimpoika (Sunderland), Joe Lewis (Swansea City) and Oliver Skipp (Tottenham Hotspur).
The winner will be announced on Friday 12th October.