Ben Elliott Is Your Reading August 2024 Player Of The Month

The former Chelsea man has now won the last award of 2023/24 and first award of 2024/25.

Congratulations once again to Ben Elliott, who you’ve voted your player of the month for August 2024!

If this feels a bit familiar, it’s because Elliott took the previous award, for April. Having taken his time getting going at Reading, he ended last season strongly and has started this one in similar fashion.

He earned a chunky 46% of the vote, putting him top of a relatively well contested field. Charlie Savage was rewarded for being top scorer so far by getting 30%, ahead of Amadou Mbengue (15%) and Kelvin Ehibhatiomhan (9%). All had strong Augusts and would have been worthy winners.

That breakdown is actually remarkably similar to April, when Elliott also got just under half of the vote, with the second-highest player around 30%, and the rest of the field made up by a forward, central midfielder and centre-back: Elliott (42%), Lewis Wing (31%). Sam Smith (18%), Tyler Bindon (8%).

Elliott’s been a real star for Reading so far in the heart of midfield. He looks so much sharper and stronger both in and out of possession than he often did last season, and has added end product too, with a brace of assists to his name so far. The benefits of last season’s experience and a summer of prep are clear.

It’s hard to see really how the Royals could replace what he’s offering right now. He’s so technically good and intelligent that Reading’s attacking play is more fluent and incisive because of him. Sometimes he drops deeper, other times he pushes higher, but he’s constantly getting involved.

He’s still only 21 so time is very much on his side, and I can’t wait to see how well he develops in the coming weeks and months. For now, it’s simply a case of him carrying on as he is, hopefully avoiding burnout or injury - although that’ll be easier when Reading bulk the squad out with some more depth.

A steady supply of assists and some goals of his own would be welcome, but they’re not crucial. Elliott’s impact is so often about knitting things together and dictating the tempo, allowing others to play the final ball or get the shooting opportunity.

Congrats Ben, more of the same please!