Watford&rsquo;s Nigeria international Odion Ighalo has been named the Premier League Player of the Month for December .<br /><br />The Hornets number 24 beat fellow nominees Mesut Ozil, Marko Arnautovic, Riyad Mahrez, Romelu Lukaku and Dele Alli to win the prestigious accolade for the first time in his career.<br /><br />Last month, Ighalo found the net five times in games against Norwich City, Sunderland, Liverpool (2) and Tottenham Hotspur and his strike versus Chelsea was later credited as a Gary Cahill own - goal by the Goal Accreditation Panel.<br /><br />The former Flying Eagles skipper has followed in the footsteps of players of Nigerian descent Austin Okocha ( Bolton wanderers), Peter Odemwingie ( West Brom) and Gabriel Agbonlahor (Aston Villa), who have all won the Premier League Player of the Month award in the past.<br /><br />In 21 appearances in the top - flight so far this season, Odion Ighalo has scored 13 goals.<br /><br />Photo Credit : watfordfc.com<br />