Opta have named Cristiano Ronaldo as their Player of the Month for February.
February may be the shortest month of the year but The Premiership managed to squeeze some ferocious action into its 28 days.As tensions mounted at the top and bottom of the table, there were performances from certain players that will live long in the memory.
The Opta Player of the Month for February is the enigmatic Manchester United winger Cristiano Ronaldo. The Portuguese wideman bagged a double double in the month, with a brace of goals at home to Fulham and another pair at Fratton Park.
He ended the month with a devastating conversion rate of 40% and capped his form off with another goal and an all-round power display in the Carling Cup Final against Wigan Athletic.
Coming second is Aston Villa's young striker Luke Moore, a player who has grown in importance to the Villans during the 2005-06 season.
Moore scored five of Villa's six goals in February, including a memorable hat-trick (his first since scoring one on loan at Wycombe in 2004) against Middlesbrough. His conversion rate of 50% was exceptional and augurs well for the future.
Third is another striker, namely Fulham's Heidar Helguson. It seems that the Icelandic man has finally cometh in south west London, as he chipped in with four goals during the period.
He tried in vain to claim a fifth in the 6-1 romp against West Brom but it was definitely an own goal by Curtis Davies.
Helguson has formed an aerially powerful partnership with Brian McBride and the pair will be looking to fire The Cottagers to the top half of the table by the end of the season.
Fourth and fifth place for the month are Ruud van Nistelrooy and Daniel Gabbidon respectively.
The Dutch striker endured a month where he was dropped for the League Cup Final by Sir Alex Ferguson but his league form was that of a thoroughbred, and he scored three goals in United's three league fixtures.
Gabbidon has become an integral part of West Ham's side and they ended February as the top-flight's form side. The Hammers have won every game since the Welsh stopper returned to the defence and as March begins, European football at Upton Park next season seems more than likely.
| Player | Club | Index Score |
| Ronaldo | Manchester United | 1961 |
| Moore | Aston Villa | 1920 |
| Helguson | Fulham | 1544 |
| van Nistelrooy | Manchester United | 1527 |
| Gabbidon | West Ham United | 1492 |
