January 2021's EA SPORTS Player of the Month shortlist

Eight players were shortlisted for January 2021's EA SPORTS Player of the Month award.

See: Ilkay Gundogan named January's EA SPORTS Player of the Month 

Fans could vote for their favourite by voting from the shortlist below on the EA SPORTS website before 18:00 GMT on Monday 8 February.

The votes from the public will be combined with those of the 20 club captains and a panel of football experts to decide the winner, who will be revealed later this week.

January EA SPORTS Player shortlist

Craig Dawson (WHU)
P5 W4 D0 L1 G2 A0 CS2

The centre-back was ever-present in two clean sheets during a three-match winning run, before scoring the winner at Crystal Palace and getting another goal against Liverpool.

Jack Grealish (AVL)
P5 W2 D0 L3 G1 A3

Aston Villa’s captain produced attacking returns in four of his five January matches, including assists in victories over Newcastle United and Southampton and a fine goal at Burnley.

Ilkay Gundogan (MCI)
P6 W6 D0 L0 G5 A0

Manchester City’s midfielder was in prolific form last month, scoring five times. His haul included superb strikes against Chelsea and Palace and a double in the 5-0 win at West Bromwich Albion as he stepped up in the absence of the injured Kevin De Bruyne.

Bernd Leno (ARS)
P5 W3 D2 L0 Saves 13 CS4

Leno made 13 saves on the way to four clean sheets in five matches. He made three stops apiece in the 4-0 win at West Brom and a goalless draw with Manchester United, before impressing with four saves at Southampton.

James Maddison (LEI)
P5 W3 D1 L1 G3 A1

Maddison kicked off 2021 by scoring in each match during a run of three successive wins, over Newcastle, Southampton and Chelsea, and he set up Harvey Barnes’ goal versus Leeds United.

Matheus Pereira (WBA)
P5 W1 D1 L3 G4 A0

The playmaker was instrumental in West Brom’s January victory and draw, scoring twice in the 3-2 Black Country derby win at Wolverhampton Wanderers before getting on the scoresheet versus Fulham.

Bukayo Saka (ARS)
P4 W3 D1 L0 G3 A1 CS2

The Arsenal winger starred by scoring in victories over West Brom and Newcastle, before contributing a goal and an assist in a 3-1 success at Southampton.

John Stones (MCI)
P5 W5 D0 L0 G2 A0 CS4

Stones partnered Ruben Dias at the centre of Man City’s defence for a run of four clean sheets in five matches, and scored his first PL goals for the club versus Palace in that sequence.

Also in this series

Part 2: January's Barclays Manager of the Month nominees
Part 3: January's Budweiser Goal of the Month contenders