Deco Won Barclays Player of the Month Award

Chelsea midfielder Deco has capped a dream start to life in England by winning the Barclays Player of the Month Award.

The summer signing from Barcelona has made a big impression in the Barclays Premier League, scoring twice and being credited with a further two assists in just three matches, as the Blues soared to the top of the table and retained their unbeaten record going into September.

Deco's creative talents were first showcased in the 4-0 win over Portsmouth in the season opener at Stamford Bridge, where his assist for Nicolas Anelka's goal was improved by a 25-yard strike to round off the scoring.

In the closely contested 1-0 victory over Wigan Athletic that followed he shone once more, as another long-range strike, this time from a third-minute free-kick, proved the difference. His effectiveness from set pieces continued in the 1-1 home draw with Tottenham Hotspur, where his corner produced the opening goal from a Juliano Belletti flick.

Deco, Luiz Felipe Scolari's debut signing, is the first Chelsea player to scoop the award since Petr Cech back in March 2007, and the only Portuguese player other than Christiano Ronaldo to collect the prize.

The decision was made by the Barclays Awards Panel, which includes representatives from football's governing bodies, the media and fans.