Maddison joy in joining 'elite' club with EA SPORTS Player award

James Maddison has been voted August's EA SPORTS Player of the Month, earning the award for the first time in his career.

Maddison has made an instant impact since joining Tottenham Hotspur from Leicester City in the summer, producing a joint-league high three goal involvements in an unbeaten start at his new club.

"I've been nominated for the award a few times, so it's a nice feeling to actually win it!" Maddison said.

"It's never easy as a new player at a new club in the Premier League, so if you'd have offered me this at the start of the season, I'd have bitten your hand off!

"So many big names, elite players in the past and currently have won this award so it's nice to be in that category. This award will sit nicely on the mantelpiece!"

Maddison marked his debut with two assists in a 2-2 draw at Brentford before getting his first goal in a 2-0 win at AFC Bournemouth.

But the 26-year-old says his favourite moment of August was the only match in which he failed to score or assist, a 2-0 win over Manchester United on his home debut. 

"I'd probably say none of the goals or assists, but walking out against Man Utd for the first home game," Maddison revealed. "I had goosebumps."

Maddison, who also created nine chances in August and made 25 crosses, the third-most in the Premier League, topped a six-man shortlist after public votes on the EA SPORTS website were combined with those of a panel of football experts.

He beat fellow nominees Taiwo Awoniyi, Jarrod Bowen, Bryan Mbeumo, Kaoru Mitoma and Rodri.

It gives Spurs an August awards double, after Ange Postecoglou was named the Barclays Manager of the Month. 

Also in this series 

Part 2: Postecoglou ends wait for Australia with Barclays Manager award
Part 3: Mitoma makes history with Budweiser Goal of the Month award
Part 4: Alisson ranks Castrol Save of the Month winner among his best