Vardy is first English Serie A player of the month

Cremonese striker Jamie Vardy has been named as the Serie A player of the month for November, becoming the first English player to win the award.

The former Leicester City captain played three matches in the Italian top flight last month, scoring one goal against Juventus.

Fellow nominees for the award, which combines fan votes with statistical data, included AC Milan goalkeeper Mike Maignan, Inter Milan’s Lautaro Martinez, Napoli winger David Neres, Genoa’s Leo Ostigard and Nicolo Zaniolo of Udinese.

“Vardy is truly a player from another era,” Serie A chief executive Luigi de Siervo said.

“His arrival at Cremonese was greeted with great enthusiasm by all Serie A fans, and Vardy is repaying them with top-level performances, innate leadership and important goals, the result of the competitive spirit and shooting skills that have always distinguished him.”

In total, Vardy has scored four goals in 10 appearances for promoted Cremonese, who are ninth in Serie A.

He netted nine times in 35 Premier League games last season for Leicester as the Foxes were relegated to the Championship.

The Serie A player of the month award was introduced in 2019, with the winner decided using a rating system that uses data tracking software.

“This makes it possible to analyse crucial aspects such as movement without the ball and thus optimal movements, game choices, and the contribution to the technical and physical efficiency of the team,” a Serie A statement explained.

Other Englishmen to have played in the league since the award was introduced include AC Milan duo Fikayo Tomori and Ruben Loftus-Cheek, former Manchester United captain Ashley Young and Tammy Abraham.