Shoot!’s Premier League Awards (December)

Photo: Paul Roberts / Offside.

Manager of the Month: Jose Mourinho (Manchester United)

Photo: Marc Atkins / Offside.

In this day and age of expectant instant success, the media and United naysayers were very quick to label Jose Mourinho as a ‘has been’ just a few games into his Red Devils career.

A poor early start quickly drew comparisons to the likes of David Moyes and Louis van Gaal, with many forgetting just how long it took Sir Alex Ferguson to turn United into a trophy wining machine.

But as Manchester United started picking up results, the noise died down.

After a draw at Everton, Mourinho guided the Red Devils to five straight wins in December and they ended the month level with Tottenham and just a point off the top four.

Champions League qualification is a big possibility and on this form, you wouldn’t rule them out of a late challenge for the title.

Patience is a virtue.

Player of the Month: Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Manchester United)

Photo: Marc Atkins / Offside.

Could the famous striker, now approaching the twilight of his career, really cut it in the Premier League?

This was the question many fans asked when Jose Mourinho brought Ibrahimovic to Old Trafford in the summer.

He started promisingly and although he tailed off somewhat, his form in December reflects that of the Red Devils – unstoppable.

A goal against Everton, the winner against Crystal Palace, a brace against West Brom and a further strike and an assist against Sunderland, the Swede was only denied a sixth goal in six matches in December via a controversial refereeing decision against Middlesbrough.

He ended the year with twelve league goals to his name – five of them in the final month of 2016.

Goal of the Month: Henrikh Mkhitaryan (MANCHESTER UNITED V Sunderland)

Photo: Marc Atkins / Offside.

The summer signing stole the headlines on Boxing Day after a spectacular scorpion strike against Sunderland on Boxing Day.

The 27-year-old scored just his second Premier League goal of the season in sensational style, flicking home Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s right-hand side cross into the far corner with a brilliant backheeled volley.

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