West Bromwich Albion striker Dwight Gayle has been named the Sky Bet Championship Player of the Month for September.
Five goals in five games showcased Gayle’s range as a goalscorer. A magical individual effort and a rapier-like finish against Stoke City, calmness against Bristol City, predatory instincts against Millwall and a stunning free-kick at Preston North End.
West Brom manager Darren Moore said: “His enthusiasm, his energy, his confidence and his positivity in and around the football club have been second to none.
“He is an experienced player in the Championship, a very, very good player and a goalscorer. He brings a calmness and goal prowess to us.
“He is scoring the goals but he will want to credit his team-mates for giving him the chances to put the ball in the back of the net. He’s a great player and we’re really pleased to have him on board – and in terms of him as a person and his personality, he is absolutely fantastic.”
Gayle said: “It is a great achievement for myself and I am really pleased for the individual award, but obviously I have got to thank my team for it and they were vital to the reason I got it.
“We are trying to play a different brand of football and everyone is pulling in the same direction. I think the staff and players are working really well together and I think if that continues we are going to have a good season.
“After the first couple of games I hadn’t scored and you start putting an extra bit of pressure on yourself, and the longer that goes I think it becomes more difficult. But luckily I have managed to get a few goals now and I feel like I have settled in and hopefully I can just continue to repay the team for helping me settle in.”
Sky Sports’ EFL pundit Don Goodman said: “Gayle has proven time and time again that he can deliver at this level and the way that he’s played throughout September will be a worrying sight for West Brom’s promotion rivals.
“He started the month, with two wonderful goals against the bookie’s pre-season favourites Stoke City, set the tone and he didn’t look back.”
🗣 “Me and my friend were watching a video of Iniesta, I thought I’d try something similar and it paid off.”@dwightgayle discusses his favourite goal of September and winning the Player of the Month award. pic.twitter.com/INaoOFEKUg
— Sky Bet Championship (@SkyBetChamp) 5 October 2018
