Manchester City midfielder Shaun Wright-Phillips scored a spectacular goal on Sunday.
Shaun is top Lion
By Joe Bernstein. Monday, 15 March 2004.
Small in stature, big in ability….Shaun Wright-Phillips provided a final flourish to Manchester City’s amazing 4-1 derby win against United.
"Put everyone in party mood" – Manchester Evening News
"Ability, a big heart and courage" – Kevin Keegan
"Overflowed with energy" – The Independent
Shaun Wright-Phillips believes he can make the full England squad and he is certainly putting his case well on the field.
The right-sided Manchester City star has skill, speed and strength to compensate for his lack of stature, and after giving Manchester United all sorts of problems in Sunday’s derby, he scored a fantastic fourth goal with a terrific shot which looped over Tim Howard from an acute angle.
No wonder Kevin Keegan spurns rotation where Wright-Phillips is concerned.
"When he’s fit, I like to pick him," says the City boss.
"He is a wonderful player and I think he's going to go a long way in the game because he's got a lot of ability, a big heart, and courage."
Wright-Phillips’ fifth goal of the season completed an amazing 4-1 City success in the first Manchester derby played at their new Eastlands Stadium.
A regular member of David Platt’s Under-21 side in the past, he hasn’t given up hope of fighting for a Euro 2004 spot.
"I haven’t booked my summer holidays yet, just in case" he says.
Wright-Phillips ran tirelessly at United all afternoon and having the audacity to fire home in the final minute from the tightest of angles was the mark of a player on top of his form.
Lion of the Weekend - Weekly Awards
Paul Scholes 4
Steven Gerrard 3
Frank Lampard 3
James Beattie 2
David Beckham 2
Jermain Defoe 2
Wayne Rooney 2
John Terry 2
Shola Ameobi 1
Dean Ashton 1
Kieron Dyer 1
Anthony Gardner 1
Emile Heskey 1
Glen Johnson 1
James Milner 1
Stefan Moore 1
Luke Moore 1
Kevin Nolan 1
Jermaine Pennant 1
Michael Owen 1
Shaun Wright-Phillips 1
TheFA.com will announce their Lion of the Weekend every Monday. A Lion of the Season award will be announced in May based on the number of weekly nominations.