New African Soccer, organisers of the English Premier League African Player of the Month awards, have announced its shortlist for the October version of the initiative.

A release put out by Awards Director, Tunde Adelakun named Southampton’s Senegalese forward Sadio Mane, Watford’s Odion Ighalo of Nigeria and Manchester City’s Ivorien midfielder Yaya Toure as the three top men to battle it out for the October crown.

The statement extolled the continued impact of Africans in the Premier League this season so far.

Adelakun noted the unrelenting performance of previous winners, which showed that their award recognition was no fluke. “Riyad Mahrez has been a revelation in this League and he keeps getting better and better. We have also seen great showings by our August winner Andre Ayew and his brother Jordan who seems to be settling down now, albeit in challenging circumstances in his club”

As normal, fans, African football followers and journalists are expected to cast their votes for their choice of the eventual winner, which will be announced very soon.

Nigerian international forward Ighalo has scored seven goals in the EPL this season, including the weekend brace against West Ham United.

Ighalo scored for Nigeria in a 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Chad in June and was also on target in an international friendly against Cameroon’s Indomitable Lions in Brussels in October.