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Southampton: Saints duo up for December awards, but Ralph misses out

By Marc Walker

LONDON, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 23: Danny Ings of Southampton celebrates with Michael Obafemi and James Ward-Prowse after scoring his team's first goal during the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Southampton FC at Emirates Stadium on November 23, 2019 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 23: Danny Ings of Southampton celebrates with Michael Obafemi and James Ward-Prowse after scoring his team's first goal during the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Southampton FC at Emirates Stadium on November 23, 2019 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images) /
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Southampton duo Danny Ings and Michael Obafemi have both been nominated for December Premier League awards.

Ings’ stunning form in front of goal has seen him amongst eight players up for the Player of the Month award, whilst Obafemi’s stunning solo strike against Chelsea sees him included for Goal of the Month.

Despite a superb upturn in form for Saints though, Ralph Hasenhuttl misses out on being nominated for the Manager of the Month.

December saw Saints win four games against Norwich, Aston Villa, Chelsea and Spurs – along with a draw and two losses versus Crystal Palace, Newcastle and West Ham respectively – as they returned to being a very cohesive looking unit.

Both Ings and Obafemi made their own contributions to this run whilst Hasenhuttl masterminded it, so it’s a little strange to see the Austrian not shortlisted.

SOUTHAMPTON, ENGLAND – NOVEMBER 30: Danny Ings of Southampton and Ralph Hasenhuttl, Manager of Southampton celebrate following their sides victory in the Premier League match between Southampton FC and Watford FC at St Mary’s Stadium on November 30, 2019 in Southampton, United Kingdom. (Photo by Naomi Baker/Getty Images)
SOUTHAMPTON, ENGLAND – NOVEMBER 30: Danny Ings of Southampton and Ralph Hasenhuttl, Manager of Southampton celebrate following their sides victory in the Premier League match between Southampton FC and Watford FC at St Mary’s Stadium on November 30, 2019 in Southampton, United Kingdom. (Photo by Naomi Baker/Getty Images) /

Ings scored five goals last month and has proved to be vital in netting the strikes that win Saints the crucial points they need.

He is up against Trent Alexander-Arnold, Emiliano Buendia, Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Kevin De Bruyne, Ben Foster, Danny Ings, Adama Traore and Jamie Vardy and looks to have a good chance of bagging the award when compared to his competitors.

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Obafemi has only enjoyed small tastes of first-team action this season but has impressed when given the opportunity – and did just that again against Chelsea as he opened the scoring.

After receiving a pass midway inside the Blues half, he spun and strode towards goal before shifting the ball onto his left foot and curling brilliantly into the top corner.

He may not win Goal of the Month this time around though given that he is up against other fantastic solo goals from Spurs’ Son Heung-Min and Crystal Palace man Jordan Ayew.

Ralph Hasenhuttl can consider himself unlucky given that he oversaw four wins in the month of December but sees Nigel Pearson in ahead of him after only two games from his four games in charge of Watford so far.

However, if he gets his players to continue their great form into January and beyond then he will surely be nominated at some stage.

You can vote for Danny Ings as Player of the Month here and Michael Obafemi for Goal of the Month here.

Next. Saints hand Hasenhuttl big January transfer war chest. dark

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