Gracia & Lucas scoop Premier League monthly awards
The first monthly awards of the Premier League season have been announced, with Lucas Moura and Javi Gracia collecting the individual gongs.
Published : Sep 07, 2018 19:20 IST
Tottenham star Lucas Moura has been named Premier League Player of the Month for August, while Javi Gracia won the managers' equivalent following Watford's impressive start to the season.
Brazil international Lucas endured a difficult debut campaign in the Premier League, playing just six times after joining from Paris Saint-Germain at the end of January.
But, after getting a full pre-season under his belt, Lucas has been in fine form in the first few weeks of 2018-19, starting all four – twice as many as he did last term – of Spurs' matches and scoring three times.
His standout performance was unquestionably his two-goal display in Spurs' brilliant 3-0 win over Manchester United at the end of August.
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And, his second goal on that occasion showed precisely why Lucas built himself a strong reputation as a youngster – the former Sao Paulo attacker bursting through United's midfield, taking on Chris Smalling and then, confidently finishing past David de Gea.
Spurs' unbeaten start to the season was ended in its first match in September – Gracia the man to mastermind that defeat.
Gracia's Watford sits on 12 points with Liverpool and Chelsea at the top of the table, making it the first time it has ever won its first four matches of a top-flight season.
The pick of its three August wins – the victories which earnt Gracia the award – was a 3-1 triumph at Burnley, while it also defeated Brighton and Hove Albion 2-0 and Crystal Palace 2-1 at home. Up next for Gracia's men is Manchester United at home, before trips to Fulham and Arsenal.