Carlisle United midfielder Jason Kennedy has been named the Sky Bet League Two Player of the Month for October.
In the goalscoring form of his life, Kennedy found the net five times in five October games, the highlight of which was an overhead kick against Morecambe.Carlisle manager Keith Curle said: “There are certain players within the group that have been challenged for their position within the team. Jason Kennedy is one of the stand-out characters.
“He faced an immediate challenge and the level of his performances has been exceptional.
“Jason couldn’t make the starting 11 at the start of the season, he has worked his socks off and he is now able to implement his natural ability and play the game how he wants to play it, but still be within the team structure and framework.”
Kennedy said: “We’ve all worked hard this month, it’s a nice personal award for me but it’s a team award really because the lads have been superb this month. The fans, the staff, as Carlisle United I think it’s an award everyone can be proud of.
“Even though I’ve already scored more goals this season than I ever had before I’m just taking each game as it comes. I’ll keep trying to build on that tally and see where it takes me towards the end of the season.
“I’m feeling good at the moment and confidence is high within the team. There’s great belief in what we’re doing within the football club and we’re getting the backing from the fans who are coming out in bigger numbers, hopefully that will continue.”
Sky Sports’ EFL pundit Don Goodman said: “Kennedy only failed to score in one league game in October, and it’s this consistency that the team have been relying on as they climb the League Two table.
“He’s already surpassed his goalscoring tally for any season in his career and is showing no signs of slowing down.”
Sky Bet Football Trading Manager Paul Lowery said: “Jason Kennedy has never previously scored more than five goals in an entire league season, so to hit five in one month for a team in red hot form shows why he was the obvious winner of this award for October.
“Given his previous propensity for being more of a provider than a goal scorer he wasn’t even quoted in our original top scorer betting for this season."
The judging panel for the Sky Bet Player of the Month comprises Sky Sports’ EFL expert Don Goodman; EFL Communications Director Mark Rowan, League Managers’ Association Director Olaf Dixon and Sky Bet Football Trading Manager Paul Lowery.