Bristol City's Aden Flint has been named the Sky Bet Championship Player of the Month for September.
Transfer bids and speculation delayed his first start of the season, but he made up for lost time at both ends in September. Commanding at the heart of the City defence, his three goals earned points against Reading, Wolves and Bolton.
😎 Morning @AFlint4... pic.twitter.com/NgMwvKKqt2
— Bristol City FC (@bcfctweets) October 6, 2017
Bristol City manager Lee Johnson said: “To come back with the attitude he has following the closure of the transfer window and all the speculation that surrounded him has been good.
“We’ve maintained a strong relationship and that will continue moving forward. He’s been exceptional, along with the rest of the defence and the keeper, but somebody’s got to win Player of the Month and we’re delighted it’s Aden.”
Flint said: “It’s been a good month for me but it’s been a great month for the club in general. With everything going on in the summer, ‘what’s happening?’, ‘where are you going to go?’ ‘am I staying?’ and not being in the team and such, I just got my head down, worked and tried not to let it bother me.
“The determination from missing the first month’s football meant that when I got my chance I was ready to take it.
“Personally I like to keep my own form up to make sure I can stay in the team because I’ve got some great competition now across the back line.”
Sky Sports’ EFL pundit Don Goodman said: “It can be incredibly distracting to perform under the uncertainty that surrounds a potential move in football and by sitting out through August, and ultimately staying put, no one would’ve been surprised if Flint had taken a while to get started this season.
“However, he had the strength of character to immediately put that behind him and his performances have been top class. His three goals highlight the fact that he is undoubtedly one of the Sky Bet Championship’s finest goalscoring central defenders.”
Sky Bet EFL trader Mikey Mumford said: “Aden Flint shone at both ends during Bristol City's unbeaten September with three goals and three shut-outs.
“He could've been forgiven for having his head turned in the summer and his manager Lee Johnson deserves huge credit for the way he's handled the player during those unsettling few months.
“Flint was not even named in the Robins' match day squad on three occasions in August so the turnaround has been quite remarkable.”
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 EFL trader Mikey Mumford.