Fulham striker Rodrigo Muniz reduced to TEARS after being surprised with the Premier League Player of the Month award by his team-mates

Fulham striker Rodrigo Muniz was reduced to tears after receiving the Premier League Player of Month award from team-mates Willian and Andreas Pereira. 

The 22-year-old was rewarded for netting four goals in as many games for the Cottagers in March.

Muniz is the first Fulham player to win the prize since goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer in 2010, while Louis Saha also won it as a Cottager back in August 2001.

He was unable to contain his emotions when receiving his prize on Friday and admitted ‘ I don’t know what to say’, in a heartwarming moment with two of his Brazilian colleagues. 

The striker has been a revelation in the second-half of the campaign, having struggled to nail down a place in Marco Silva‘s side and failing to score before February.  Since then, the 22-year-old has scored eight times, including strikes against Aston Villa and Tottenham. 

Muniz scored four goals in four Premier League appearances for Marco Silva’s side in March

Mark Schwarzer was the last Fulham player to win the award after keeping five consecutive clean sheets in February 2010

His brace against Ange Postecoglou‘s team last month helped Fulham to a stunning 3-0 victory over their London rivals, who are closing in on a Champions League qualification spot. 

Muniz prevailed in a stacked list of nominees that included Alexis Mac Allister, Cole Palmer, Son Heung-min, Alexander Isak, Ben White and Antoine Semenyo.

Muniz’s form could see him make a late push for Brazil’s Copa America squad the summer. He is yet to represent his country at any level but now finds himself in a close battle to be the highest-scoring Brazilian in the Premier League this season. 

Spurs striker Richarlison currently leads the way with 10, ahead of Mathias Cunha of Wolves and Aston Villa midfielder Douglas Luiz with 9. 

Elsewhere, Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola has been recognised for his side’s unbeaten month with the Manger of the Month award. 

The Cherries won two games on the bounce against Everton and Luton to see out the month, having begun with a victory away to Burnley before a 2-2 draw with Sheffield United. 

Andoni Iraola is the first Bournemouth boss to win the award since Eddie Howe in 2018

Muniz scored four goals in four games in March, including the stoppage-time equaliser in Fulham’s 3-3 draw against Sheffield United

Muniz’s emergence in the last few months is all the more startling when considering his slow start to life in England following his signing from Flamengo in 2021. 

He scored five goals in 25 Championship appearances during his debut campaign with the west London outfit before he was loaned back out to the second-tier with Middlesbrough, despite Fulham’s promotion. 

There, Muniz could only many two goals from 17 appearances, with him looking set to for further short-term spells away from the club, if not a permanent departure. 

Instead, he has filled the whole left by Aleksandar Mitrovic and usurped Raul Jimenez in the starting line-up, with Fulham sat 13th and well clear of the relegation picture.