LIVERPOOL FORWARD ROBERTO Firmino has been named the Professional Footballers’ Association’s Fans’ Player of the Month for January.
The 24-year-old beat off competition from 11 other Premier League stars to claim 40.2% of the vote, with Manchester United’s Wayne Rooney finishing second and Tottenham Hotspur’s Harry Kane taking third.
The Brazil star hit four goals in four appearances over the month of January, helping his club to a 3-3 draw with Arsenal before a stunning 5-4 victory over Norwich City.
His fine form has arrived since Jurgen Klopp moved him to a false number 9 role, the position in which all of his 11 international caps have come.
“I have played there for the national team before as a striker and I’ve been getting used to the position,” Firmino said.
“I enjoy playing as a forward but I am there to help the team and am happy as long as I am playing. It is another challenge, I am playing in this position and I am well prepared for it.”
Firmino, who arrived at Anfield from German club Hoffenheim in June last year, has now managed six goals in 16 league starts during his first season in England.
Injury saw him replaced in the Brazil squad by veteran Santos striker Ricardo Oliveira for October’s World Cup qualifiers. Firmino was then left out of the squad for November’s clashes with Argentina and Peru.
All of Firmino’s Selecao appearances have come since Dunga’s July 2014 appointment and he is now hoping his form with Liverpool will earn him a recall for March’s qualifiers against Uruguay and Paraguay.
