LOAN ACE OLI SCOOPS PLAYER PRIZE
Tykes striker McBurnie off to a flyer
OLI McBurnie has been rewarded for his blistering start to life at Barnsley with the Sky Bet Championship Player of the Month trophy for February.
The 21-year-old began life as a Tyke with a substitute’s appearance in the 1-0 defeat at QPR at the start of the month. After that, the Scot weighed in with four goals in four starts as the Yorkshire side attempted to move away from the Championship’s lower reaches.
It was a sign of how influential McBurnie became that his tally accounted for all but one of Barnsley’s total in the month.
The Swansea loanee said: “It is the best start I could have asked for on a personal note. Coming out on loan, it was about coming down and getting some games and scoring some goals and thankfully this month I have been able to do that.
“The boys have been a massive help. Settling in straight away is a massive part when you come on loan. It is a good start and hopefully now I can carry it on.”
Barnsley manager Jose Morais is delighted his young forward scooped the prize.
“I think he’s creating a strong impact in the team and this proves he’s a talent and a young talent too, I totally agree with the award being given to him,” he said.
“It’s an intelligent way for people to show they’re paying attention to the young players in the league when they receive such a good award, so we are thankful for this."
In League One, another young striker on loan took the prize – Blackburn Rovers hotshot Adam Armstrong.
Challenge
The Newcastle loan capture, who turned 21 last month, notched four goals and an assist as Rovers stepped up their promotion challenge. He had previously played under Blackburn boss Tony Mowbray on loan at Coventry.
"He's a fantastic lad and a great personality,” said Mowbray. “He fits in great with the dressing room. He just has the right qualities that this team needs.
“If you've got a Jack Payne or a Bradley Dack, who can manipulate the ball and slide passes in behind teams, you need speed and Adam brings fantastic speed and directness, so I think the combination works well.”
Armstrong believes the togetherness in the Blackburn camp has made his life a lot easier.
“Everyone makes you feel welcome and it's amazing to be around that sort of atmosphere,” he said. “It's pushing us on in the games and in training every week.
“We're getting the three points, which is the main thing, and we've just got to keep going now.”
Another striker picked up the League Two gong – though he’s at the other end of the age spectrum. Well-travelled striker Marc Richards, 35, joined Swindon from Northampton in mid-January and made an immediate impact.
In February alone, the evergreen forward netted five goals in six games.
“I am delighted with how things have gone,” he said. “I couldn’t have asked for anything more from the club, my teammates and the staff.
“To come here and to hit the ground running has been the perfect start for me and to pick up a few goals on the way has been a big help.”
Swindon caretaker-manager Matt Taylor said: “Marc’s a great lad, he's a good leader, he’s got loads of experience and he’s a mate of mine so I am really happy that he’s won the award.
“He'll want to kick on now, get more goals and fire us towards where we want to get to.”