West Ham United’s Lewis Orford and Josh Ajala have been shortlisted for the Premier League 2 Player of the Month award for August.
The Hammers sit tied at the top of the PL2 standings after the first three match days. Arsenal and Nottingham Forest, who are level on points and goal difference, also have two players included in the nominees list.
Orford, who recently signed a new five-year contract, has been instrumental in the young Hammers’ strong start to the season. Playing every minute of the season so far, Orford set up both goals in their PL2 season-opening 2-0 victory away at Brighton & Hove Albion, registered another assist in West Ham’s 5-1 win against Southampton before captaining the squad in their last outing, a 1-0 win against Norwich City.
Since making his first start in Premier League 2 against Brighton on the opening day, Ajala has adjusted seamlessly to life in the U21s set up. The 17-year-old centre forward has three goals in three PL2 appearances, earning him a call up to Will Antwi’s U19s England squad, making his debut in a 2-2 draw against Italy.
Other nominees for the award include Aaron Bott (Nottingham Forest), Khayon Edwards (Arsenal), Jack Fletcher (Manchester United), Kyle McAdam (Nottingham Forest), Nathan Butler-Oyedekji (Arsenal) and Kristian Sekularac (Fulham).
The Premier League Football Development Panel will announce the winner next Friday, 13 September, at 10am.
