Pukki up for Player of the Month

Five goals in his first four games in the English top flight have earned Norwich City striker Teemu Pukki a nomination for August's Premier League player of the month award.

The Finnish forward, 29, is joined by a stellar cast of nominees that includes Man City trio Sergio Aguero, Raheem Sterling and Kevin de Bruyne, as well as Liverpool's Roberto Firmino and Burnley's Ashley Barnes. 

For the managerial award, City boss Pep Guardiola makes the cut, as does Liverpool's Jurgen Klopp, Crystal Palace's Roy Hodgson and Leicester's Brendan Rodgers.

Returning to the subject of Pukki, it is fair to say that the striker has quickly stopped talk of his potential inability to transfer his Championship form last season onto the Premier League stage. His international form has also been outstanding and he added to a host of matchwinning goals for his country in recent times with Finland's winner against Greece on Thursday. Pukki has already won the PFA fans' player of the month award for August and he must be a hot favourite for the Premier League award. 

Evidence that Pukki is absolutely flying at the moment can be drawn from a comparison between the Finn and stat machine Cristiano Ronaldo. Playmaker ran the numbers to compare the two players' output for club and country over the past two seasons (see stat below) - and Pukki's numbers compare favourably with the Portuguese goal machine. If you're being compared to Ronaldo you must be doing something right! 

📈 Teemu Pukki fr. 2018/19 (Norwich City + Finland)
🏟: 61 Games
👍: 58 Starts
⚽: 42 Goals
🅰: 11 Assists
🥅: 1 Pen
⚡: 8 Doubles
🔥: 1 Hat-trick
💥: 11 Matchwinners
➡: 29 Right foot
⬅: 10 Left foot
👤: 1 Header (+2 other)
▶: 41 fr. open play#ncfc @NorwichCityFC @Huuhkajat pic.twitter.com/A97VtP1Yv5

— playmakerstats (@playmaker_EN) September 6, 2019