FOOTBALL-Shaw grabs the WSL Player of the Month award.

LONDON, CMC – Jamaica Women’s striker Khadija “Bunny” Shaw said she was looking forward to the remaining matches in the Women’s Super League after winning the Player-of-the-Month award for December.

It was the first time Shaw, who celebrates her 26th birthday on January 31, had claimed the prize this season and came after being named the Manchester City Women’s Player-of-the-Month for the same period.

“I am happy to win the award for the first time this year,” she said in an article on Man City’s website. “December was an excellent month for our team, and I am grateful to everyone who voted.

“We’re getting into an essential part of the season now, so winning both games in December has given us a big boost. Hopefully, we can continue our strong form until the end of the season to make our fans happy.”

Shaw faced tough competition from Man City team-mate Lauren Hemp, Taylor Hinds of Liverpool, Lena Petermann of Leicester City, Ella Toone of Manchester United, and Barbora Votikova of Tottenham Hotspur.

She netted a hat-trick in a 4-1 win against Everton at the end of last year, and she maintained her position as the League’s leading scorer so far this term with nine goals in as many matches.

Her treble followed a strong display in a 2-1 win against Aston Villa, where the Man City Women came from a goal down to collect three points at the Joie Stadium.

Shaw reserved her best for the match against the Toffees, as Everton is known, when she extinguished the disappointment of missing an early penalty to break the deadlock with a sublime chip past goalkeeper Courtney Brosnan.

She then doubled her and City’s tally at Walton Hall Park with a driven shot into the bottom corner before Jill Roord extended the visitors’ lead further.

Following the interval, Shaw collected the match ball when heading home in the 65th minute – which also signaled a perfect hat-trick.