Commons Wins Player Of The Round

Kris Commons admits The FA Cup brings the best out of him after he became the first person to win Player of the Round awards in different years.

The Nottingham Forest star cracked a first-half hat-trick, which included two stunning strikes, in the 5-0 demolition of non-League Yeading to pave The Reds’ path through to the Second Round.

His treble – the first time he has ever scored three in senior football – certainly caught the eye of BBC Radio Five Live’s Mark Clemmit who nominated him for the award and the fans agreed in their numbers. Commons grabbed 60 per cent of the 6,514 votes that were polled making him the clear winner.

‘I am delighted to have won the award and would like to thank all those people who took the time to vote for me,’ said Commons.

Commons first won the Player of the Round award in February last year after an impressive display helped Forest share a 1-1 draw with Tottenham Hotspur at White Hart Lane in the Fifth Round.

‘It’s the second time I’ve won, which would suggest that The FA Cup brings the best out of me,’ he added. ‘I went to the Arsenal-Manchester United final at the Millennium Stadium a couple of years ago, which was a fantastic occasion.’

Common’s prize, courtesy of E.ON, is a VIP place for him and a guest at the 2007 FA Cup Final, as well as £500 of football equipment to donate to a local school of his choice and a silver salver.

The midfielder with an educated left foot will have a chance to make history by being the first player to win three awards when Forest travel to Salisbury City in the Second Round on Sunday 3 December.

Out to spoil his and Forest’s day will be Salisbury striker Matt Tubbs, who came second in the poll for Player of the First Round with 13 per cent of the vote.

He scored one and made two in Fleetwood Town’s 3-0 win over Salisbury, a result which set up a dream tie with the two-time European Champions – a game which will be shown live on BBC1.

Commons is the fifth winner of Player of the Round this season following Paul Booth, Byron Bubb, Gary McPhee and Paul Lewis.









TheFA.Com