Fulham midfielder Alex Iwobi is aiming to win the Premier League Player of the Month award, an honour previously claimed by his uncle, Austin Okocha.

More than 22 years after Okocha, then at Bolton Wanderers, was named Premier League Player of the Month, his nephew Iwobi is now in contention for the same accolade.

The Nigeria international is among seven Premier League stars nominated for the Player of the Month award for March, including Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United), James Garner (Everton), Morgan Gibbs-White (Nottingham Forest), Anthony Gordon (Newcastle United), David Raya (Arsenal), and Danny Welbeck (Brighton).

If successful, Iwobi would become the fifth Nigerian in history to win the Premier League Player of the Month, joining Okocha, three-time winner Peter Odemwingie, Odion Ighalo and Kelechi Iheanacho.

Iwobi started all four matches played by Fulham this month, helping the Londoners secure wins against Tottenham Hotspur and Burnley. 

He also scored a goal, a strike that is now shortlisted for Goal of the Month. 

Against Tottenham,  the former Arsenal man used his instep to provide an accurate finish across goal from outside of the box.

The Goal of the Month shortlist also includes Morgan Gibbs-White, Elliot Anderson, William Osula, Bernardo Silva, Iliman Ndiaye and John McGinn.

Interestingly, former Fulham defender Ola Aina, Iwobi's childhood friend, is the only Nigeria-eligible player to have won the Premier League Goal of the Month, taking the award in November 2020 for a brilliant strike against West Brom.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel