Exeter City striker Ollie Watkins has been named the Sky Bet League Two Player of the Month for January.
It was another outstanding month for the 21-year-old who drew markers to him to lay on goals for others instead.He managed two himself, including a superb effort at Grimsby, and set up five, including a hat-trick of assists against Colchester.
Exeter manager Paul Tisdale said: “I am really proud of him because he has scored a lot of goals recently and everyone expects things of him.
“He played with so much maturity to pass to someone in a better position and that says so much about him. Again, he has gone up in my estimations.
“You just have to play the next second and he has been playing what has been around him and the opportunities have opened up for him to play in other players.”
Watkins added: “It’s nice to be able to add some assists to my game and I’m really happy to be involved and for the team to keep winning.
“A number of players could’ve won the award this month, including Dave Wheeler, who was superb in January scoring five goals.”
Sky Sports’ EFL pundit Don Goodman said: “There have been months where Watkins has scored more goals, but his contribution of five assists was equally valuable for an Exeter side who are scoring for fun.
“Added to this the pressure that comes with being the subject of transfer speculation, and Watkins is the deserved winner of the January award.”
Sky Bet Football Trading Manager Paul Lowery said: “If his manager was a little unlucky to miss out on the manager of the month gong then Watkins makes up for it with an individual award which is given for his contribution in all areas for his team during their amazing run of form.
“The youngster has had better goalscoring months for his side - he hit five goals in December - but his all-round play during the month of January which included a handful of assists as well as two strikes of his own nets him this award.
“Watkins and his team-mates are on the verge of a truly special turnaround in fortunes having been floundering at the depths of League Two in November.”
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.