Southampton: Saints men miss out on January Premier League awards

Three Southampton nominees for January Premier League awards have missed out in their respective categories.

This is despite Saints’ upturn in form continuing in the first month of 2020 with three league wins from four games.

Ralph Hasenhuttl was nominated for the Manager of the Month alongside Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp, Watford manager Nigel Pearson and Manchester City’s Pep Guardiola.

Klopp was victorious in this category for the fifth time in the first six months of this season given that Liverpool won all of their games in January.

Hasenhuttl is unfortunate and would surely have been in with a better shout in another campaign without one outstanding team running away with the league title.

Nathan Redmond was also up for an award – Goal of the Month for his superb strike away at Crystal Palace, but Brighton’s Alireza Jahanbakhsh was the victor in this category.

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The way that the Saints man took this goal really highlighted just how he has stepped it up with his team since the early season.

After taking down a lofted ball forward from Jack Stephens, Redmond spun his man on the edge of the penalty area and opened up space for a shot, before releasing a stunning strike across goal and into the top corner of the net.

Saints will need more of this from Redmond, but his excellent assist for Danny Ings’ goal against Spurs in the FA Cup last Wednesday was another sign of his form at the moment.

The last Saints man nominated was Jack Stephens, who was up for the Player of the Month gong after playing in three league wins that included two clean sheets.

The central defender’s creativity also saw him as a candidate here, with two assists from defence.

Sergio Aguero won out in this category though after netting seven goals in January, but being nominated is certainly the least that Stephens deserves with his recent importance to Saints.

Overall, Hasenhuttl, Redmond and Stephens are unlucky to be up against such imperious opposition for these awards. Keeping up current form should see them recognised again though and, in turn, move Saints up the Premier League table.