The Brentford winger scored twice during an unbeaten September and has now been recognised among the Premier League’s leading performers.
Kevin Schade has been nominated as part of the Premier League’s Player of the Month award shortlist after helping Brentford through September without defeat.
Schade is one of eight players included, following a month in which he started all three of Brentford’s league games, scoring twice as Keith Andrews’ side collected five points against Sunderland, Bournemouth and Chelsea.
Both goals came in the same afternoon at Bournemouth, although there was little similarity between them.
Brentford had taken control of possession high up the pitch when Mamadou Sangaré found Yehor Yarmoliuk for the opener, with Schade getting himself between defenders and directing the midfielder’s cross in off the post. Bournemouth eventually went 2-1 ahead, leaving the Bees needing another goal from Schade rather than simply having his first one to protect.
That one owed more to anticipation and composure. Đorđe Petrović’s attempted pass fell straight to Schade, who controlled it before lifting his finish over the goalkeeper and earning the Bees a 2-2 draw.
The brace accounted for both of Schade’s September goals, but his month did not end there.
The winger started again as Brentford beat Chelsea 3-0 at Gtech Community Stadium six days later and was involved in two of the goals. Mikkel Damsgaard played him through before Emiliano Martínez saved his attempt and Igor Thiago converted the rebound. At the same time, Schade’s low delivery across goal eventually reached Fábio Carvalho for Brentford’s third in stoppage time.
It has been a productive opening to the season for Schade, who has also scored in the 1-1 draw at Leeds United at the end of August. That finish, an improvised flick into the far corner from Keane Lewis-Potter’s delivery, which was subsequently nominated for the Premier League’s Goal of the Month award.
Five league games have therefore brought three goals, with the Bournemouth performance providing the strongest individual contribution so far.
Schade’s September nomination comes alongside another piece of Brentford recognition from the opening weeks of the campaign. Mamadou Sangaré was included on the August Player of the Month shortlist, while Schade and Lewis-Potter were both nominated for the goal award.
The competition for September includes Mohamed Belloumi of Hull City, Leeds United defender Jayden Bogle, Brighton pair Pascal Groß and Charalampos Kostoulas, Liverpool’s Alexander Isak and Jérémy Jacquet, and Manchester City forward Antoine Semenyo.
Voting is now open and closes on Monday, September 28. You can vote for Schade via the Premier League website.
The winner is selected by combining the public vote, alongside selections from an expert panel.
The winner will be announced on Friday, October 2.
