GIANT ADEN CAN HIT THE HEIGHTS – LEE
BRISTOL City’s towering defender Aden Flint has continued his incredible progress by winning the Sky Bet Championship Player of the Month award – and boss Lee Johnson is tipping him for the top.
The 26-year-old defender has risen from Non-League to the second tier of English football via Alfreton Town, Swindon Town and now the Robins.
Flint helped City to three clean sheets and headed home three corners in February wins over Ipswich Town and Nottingham Forest that helped to get new manager Johnson’s reign off to a storming start.
“I’ve really enjoyed working with Aden since I arrived at the club and I’m delighted he’s won this award, it’s fully deserved,” said Johnson. “Aden has the potential to play as high as he wants.”
The 6ft 5ins former England C international is delighted to have captured the coveted prize.
“It’s been a great month for the team and I’m sure the goals I managed to score will have played a part in the award,” he said.
“Thanks to the staff and the rest of the lads for playing their part. We’re now looking forward to securing enough points to main- tain our Championship status.”
Burnley manager Sean Dyche has claimed the manager prize after guiding the Clarets to the top of the table.
While their rivals stuttered, he guided his team through six unbeaten games – including a 1-0 win over then-leaders Hull – to the summit.
Promising Millwall goalkeeper Jordan Archer, 22, has scooped the League One player accolade.
The reliable last line in a Millwall defence which conceded just three goals in five games, Archer even had the presence of mind to spectacularly head over a Mark Beevers backpass against Peterborough.
Wigan manager Gary Caldwell has won the manager prize. February saw the Latics break into the automatic promotion places with ten points from 12, scoring seven and conceding one.
In League Two,York City striker Bradley Fewster, 20, took the honours. The Middlesbrough loanee netted five goals in as many games.
Northampton Town manager Chris Wilder made it successive awards in February.The table-topping Cobblers took 16 points from a possible 18.