Celtic’s Shen Menglu named SWPL1 Player of the Month | OneFootball

Celtic FC Women winger Shen Menglu has been rewarded for her excellent form over the course of the month with a nomination for the SWPL1’s player of the month for March.

Menglu faces some tough competition from Lauren Davidson of Glasgow City, Hearts’ Ciara Grant and Brogan Hay of theRangers, however, the nomination alone is well deserved for the Celtic wide player, who has developed into one of Fran Alonso’s most eye-catching performers. And that’s no mean feat in a side who have scored an incredible 91 goals this season whilst conceding just five.

Chinese international Shen Menglu joined Fran Alonso’s squad last summer, with the exciting wide player signing a two-year-deal from Atletico Ouriense in Portugal – having previously plied her trade in the green and white hoops of Sporting Lisbon – after moving to Europe at just 19 years of age.

The 20-year-old former Chinese youth international joined fellow countrywoman Shen Mengyu at Celtic, who last year became the first ever Chinese woman to become a professional footballer in the UK.

Known as Lu to her teammates she arrived in time to make her league debut in a 9-0 victory of Hibernian on the opening day of the 2022/23 SWPL season.

Since then, Lu has made 18 appearances for Celtic this season and has probably started more often as a result of the long-term injury picked up by Lucy Ashworth-Clifford. However, if Lu was considered one for the future it would appear instead her time is now.

With domestic and international experience in her native China, and having already gained invaluable playing time in European football, Menglu has certainly also impacted on the Scottish game already, and with her form improving with each passing week, being shortlisted for this month’s player of the month is richly deserved.

The speedy and direct winger has grabbed three goals in just 12 starts and a further six substitute appearances, and although she has some tough competition, particularly from Glasgow City’s Lauren Davidson, she may well fancy her chances of grabbing the award.

If not, being shortlisted should be a welcome boost to Lu’s confidence and is evidence her ever improving and consistent performances are being noticed outwith the club as well as by the Celtic support.

Best of luck Lu!

Niall J