Shortlist revealed for January Etihad Women's Player of the Month | OneFootball

Voting for January's Etihad Women's Player of the Month award is now open!

City were in action four times across the month in three separate competitions, winning all but one of those encounters.

We began the month with a 3-0 win over Ipswich in the FA Cup, before losing 4-2 to Manchester United in the Barclays Women’s Super League.

The Blues recovered though to regain derby bragging rights with a 2-1 League Cup quarter-final triumph, before rounding off the month with three points at Aston Villa.

As always, whittling the shortlist down to just three was an incredibly difficult decision, but your nominees are below, as well as a quick reminder of their achievements…

Rebecca Knaak

The German defender only joined the Club on New Year’s Day but has certainly impressed in her first few weeks at City.

Knaak has been ever-present in the Blues’ backline and began the month with a clean sheet and assist on her debut against Ipswich.

Famed for her scoring prowess at former club Rosengard, the defender then opened her City account at the Etihad Stadium against Manchester United – a small positive on an otherwise frustrating day for Gareth Taylor’s side.

However, like her team-mates, she responded defiantly to that derby disappointment and was a standout player in the 2-1 victory over our rivals in the League Cup.

Her assured displays alongside Laia Aleixandri continued when she once again played an important role in City’s 4-2 win against Aston Villa to finish the month.

VOTE FOR REBECCA KNAAK

WATCH: Extended highlights: Manchester United 1-2 City

Mary Fowler

One goal and four assists across the month, Fowler has been a key provider for her team-mates at the sharp end in January.

It was the Australian who set up both Knaak for her first City goal and then also Vivianne Miedema at the Etihad, before she repeated the trick in our League Cup win a few days later.

Doing well to retrieve possession and playing the ball out to Lily Murphy on the Blues’ left, Fowler’s tenacity and vision created the opportunity which our exciting young winger duly took to win the game at Leigh Sports Village.

Our number eight then got in on the act herself at Villa Park in the WSL, helping City record a hard-fought and important win against a side who have often caused us problems in the past.

Cutting inside on her left foot, Fowler’s effort from distance might’ve taken a slight deflection en route to the goal but it was just rewards for another tireless display from the Australian.

VOTE FOR MARY FOWLER

WATCH: Short highlights: Aston Villa 2-4 City

Vivianne Miedema

Returning to action for the first time since early October, the Dutch forward has been a crucial figure across the month for City.

With four goals in her three appearances, any concerns that Miedema might take time to find her scoring touch again were quickly dismissed, but her displays leading the line in the absence of Bunny Shaw have been about so much more than goals.

Coming off the bench to complete the scoring against Ipswich, the forward led the line admirably against United in our 4-2 defeat, heading home Mary Fowler’s cross to give City hope at the Etihad.

Rested in the League Cup win over our rivals the following week, she returned for our victory at Villa Park and was undoubtedly the Blues’ star performer.

A first half brace, the second a stunning effort from distance, showed why Miedema’s tally for City already stands at six goals in as many starts.

VOTE FOR VIVIANNE MIEDEMA