Public can help decide who is named the best Premier League player in October

With competition stiff after a compelling October of Premier League football the public can help to choose who wins the EA Sports Player of the Month award.

After an exceptional month for Chelsea, Antonio Conte's side boast three of the seven nominees for the monthly accolade in N'Golo Kante, Eden Hazard and Diego Costa.

The others to make the cut are Burnley goalkeeper Tom Heaton, Stoke City midfielder Joe Allen, Liverpool's Philippe Coutinho and Ikay Gundogan, of Manchester City.

The EA SPORTS Player of the Month award is decided by a combination of a public vote via premierleague.com, counting for 10%, and those from a panel of Premier League experts and current club captains.

The vote for October's winner will close at 23.59 GMT on Monday 7 November. Because of the international break, the winner will be announced on Friday 18 November.

See: How the Premier League awards work

Tom Heaton (Burnley)

The England goalkeeper played a major part in Burnley's revival in October, making 31 saves to take his season's tally to 57, 21 more than his nearest rival. Eleven came in the match at Old Trafford where Heaton defied all that Manchester United could throw at him.

Joe Allen (Stoke City)

The Welshman thrived in his new No 10 role, scoring as many Premer League goals (three) in the month as he managed in total in his two previous seasons. Allen also created six chances for team-mates, including two assists, as Stoke recorded three wins in a row.

N'Golo Kante (Chelsea)

An ever-present in October, Kante has been the linchpin of Antonio Conte's new 3-4-3 formation. As well providing the team a defensive solidity that meant they did not concede in October, Kante laid on six chances for team-mates, completed 247 passes and scored a memorable goal against Manchester United as Chelsea won four matches out of four.



Eden Hazard (Chelsea)

The 2014/15 Premier League Player of the Year continued his resurgence through October with three goals, an assist, seven chances teed up for team-mates and 17 completed dribbles.



Ikay Gundogan (Manchester City)

Man City fans had to wait until October to see their summer signing in action, due to a knee injury, but the German did not disappoint. The creative verve he brings to City was demonstrated by 251 successful passes, 81 of them in the final third, and the nine chances he laid on for team-mates, including an assist. Gundogan also weighed in with two goals, against West Bromwich Albion.

Diego Costa (Chelsea)

If Kante has been Chelsea's driving force, and Hazard the wizard on the wing, Costa has represented Chelsea's cutting edge. The Spain forward maintained his early-season form, scoring three goals as well as providing an assist, to take his tally to an unrivalled eight for the season.

Philippe Coutinho (Liverpool)

Coutinho continued to shine brightly in Liverpool's exciting attack throughout October. The Brazilian was at the heart of everything, laying on 13 chances for team-mates, completing 14 dribbles and 92 passes that finished in the final third, He also scored a wonderful goal, his fifth of the campaign, against West Brom.

See: Past winners