“BUT WHAT ABOUT CHUKS ANEKE...?”

Sadly, not every EFL club could be represented in the top 50 – as well as the Charlton hot shot, these players also narrowly missed out, including one of our divisional award winners from just a year ago

DION CHARLES

ACCRINGTON STANLEY FORWARD AGE 25 Signed in 2019 from National League North side Southport, Charles scored nine goals last season but had 18 by mid- March in 2020- 21, resulting in a call- up for Northern Ireland.

SCOTT QUIGLEY

BARROW FORWARD AGE 28 After injuries affected the start of his campaign, last term’s promotion hero went on a scoring streak as Barrow bid to avoid a return to non- league.

MAXIME COLIN

BIRMINGHAM CITY DEFENDER AGE 29 The former France U20 full- back has been one of Birmingham’s more reliable performers in a tough season, which has seen Blues battling to stave off relegation from the Championship.

CJ HAMILTON

BLACKPOOL MIDFIELDER AGE 26 Having joined the Seasiders in July from League Two Mansfield, the winger has made a positive impression in his first full season as a League One player.

EOIN DOYLE

BOLTON WANDERERS FORWARD AGE 33 Doyle scored 25 times for Swindon to become FFT’S League Two player of the year last term – after going to Bolton, he’d hit 15 goals by early March.

ELLIOT WATT

BRADFORD CITY MIDFIELDER AGE 21 An under- 21 international for Scotland, Watt swapped Wolves for Bradford during the summer and has been a linchpin in the centre of midfield this season.

SAM NICHOLSON

BRISTOL ROVERS MIDFIELDER AGE 26 After three campaigns in MLS, the former Hearts man moved to League One in July and has often been the Pirates’ most potent attacking force.

RYAN EDWARDS

BURTON ALBION MIDFIELDER AGE 27 The Brewers’ line- up has been much changed since Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink’s return as gaffer, but Edwards has kept his place and flourished.

CALLUM GUY

CARLISLE UNITED MIDFIELDER AGE 24 After spells with Derby and then Blackpool, Guy joined Carlisle last January – and has caught the eye as a mainstay of the midfield this season.

CHUKS ANEKE

CHARLTON ATHLETIC FORWARD AGE 27 The former MK Dons and Arsenal forward hit the net once in the Championship for the Addicks last season, but he had 12 goals by early March in League One this time around.

NOAH CHILVERS

COLCHESTER UNITED MIDFIELDER AGE 20 This hasn’t exactly been Colchester’s finest season, but the promising attacking midfielder has shone in a struggling side. He was only 20 in February.

TOM NICHOLS

CRAWLEY TOWN FORWARD AGE 27 Released by Bristol Rovers, he moved to Crawley in September and bagged 15 goals by mid- March. Since Max Watters’ sale to Cardiff, he’s been vital.

CHARLIE KIRK

CREWE ALEXANDRA FORWARD AGE 23 The wideman played a crucial role in Crewe’s promotion to League One last term, earning a place in the League Two team of the year. He’s impressed again in the third division.

TOM ANDERSON

DONCASTER ROVERS DEFENDER AGE 27 Donny sold captain Ben Whiteman in January but Anderson remains at the heart of the defence, prepared to stick his head in the way whenever needed.

CALLUM CONNOLLY

FLEETWOOD TOWN DEFENDER AGE 23 In his eighth loan period away from Everton, Connolly has returned to Fleetwood in 2020- 21 and earned the captaincy as part of a three- man backline.

JORDAN GRAHAM

GILLINGHAM MIDFIELDER AGE 26 The former Wolves man was sought after in January – he’s been the cornerstone of the Gills’ attacking play this term, cutting infield to good effect.

JAY MATETE

GRIMSBY TOWN MIDFIELDER AGE 20 It’s been a pretty awful season for Grimsby, in real danger of dropping back into non- league, but loanee Matete has shown promise since arriving from Fleetwood at the turn of the year.

CONNOR HALL

HARROGATE TOWN DEFENDER AGE 27 The Yorkshire side have had a decent start to life in the EFL, and they’ve been helped by their central defensive rock – he was also key to promotion last term.

PIPA

HUDDERSFIELD TOWN DEFENDER AGE 23 His real name may be Gonzalo Avila, but the Spaniard goes by the moniker of ‘ Pipa’ and has been a consistent presence in the Terriers’ line- up during a mixed campaign for the club.

FLYNN DOWNES

IPSWICH TOWN MIDFIELDER AGE 22 Despite being sidelined with knee knack for a spell, when fully fit the central midfielder has continued to prove himself as the Tractor Boys’ standout player. DANNY JOHNSON

LEYTON ORIENT FORWARD AGE 28 Having joined from Dundee 15 months ago, the talisman had 17 goals to his name this season by January 2, before injury halted all of his momentum. OLLIE CLARKE

MANSFIELD TOWN MIDFIELDER AGE 28 After nearly a dozen years with Bristol Rovers, Clarke moved to Mansfield to follow Graham Coughlan. The gaffer has now gone, but Clarke has shone. SCOTT FRASER

MK DONS MIDFIELDER AGE 26 The Scot left Burton last July having netted 11 league goals over two years, then signed for the Dons. By March, he’d hit double figures in one season for the first time in his career.

CARLOS MENDES GOMES

MORECAMBE FORWARD AGE 22 Derek Adams has turned Morecambe into unlikely play- off contenders and, says his exciting Spanish wideman, “taken my game to the next level”.

LIAM SHEPHARD

NEWPORT COUNTY MIDFIELDER AGE 26 Shephard was released by Forest Green at the end of last season but promptly turned up in his native Wales, where he’s caught the eye on the right- hand side in County’s promotion tilt.

SHAUN MCWILLIAMS

NORTHAMPTON TOWN MIDFIELDER AGE 22 A bad knee injury kept the local lad out of the second half of his club’s promotion campaign, but he has returned this term in a holding midfield role.

CONOR MCALENY

OLDHAM ATHETIC FORWARD AGE 28 Dropping to the fourth tier for the first time in his career, Mcaleny has carried Oldham at times, as 10 goals before the end of November can attest.

CAMERON BRANNAGAN

OXFORD UNITED MIDFIELDER AGE 24 Formerly with Liverpool, the midfield ace was sidelined for some of this season because of a rare eye infection, but he has been key for the Us since recovering.

TOM CONLON

PORT VALE MIDFIELDER AGE 25 Things have been far from perfect for Port Vale this season, but the form of their central midfield star has been a rare bright spot amid the gloom.

STEPHEN HUMPHRYS

ROCHDALE FORWARD AGE 23 One of the few to shine in Southend’s horrendous 2019- 20 campaign, Humphrys has sparkled in another League One relegation battle this time around.

MICHAEL SMITH

ROTHERHAM UNITED FORWARD AGE 29 Life was never going to be easy for Rotherham on their Championship return, but the reliable targetman is one of several top performers who has kept them in the hunt for survival.

RYAN LOFT

SCUNTHORPE UNITED FORWARD AGE 23 The 6ft 3in former Tottenham youngster – and once a high- jump champion – joined the Iron last August after two years at Leicester, and has since led the line well in Lincolnshire.

BARRY BANNAN

SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY MIDFIELDER AGE 31 In a turbulent campaign for a team trying to avoid the drop after a six- point deduction, Bannan has generally been the Owls’ most consistent performer.

SHAUN WHALLEY

SHREWSBURY TOWN FORWARD AGE 33 Whalley has moved into the veteran stage of his career but remains a firm favourite with Shrews. He’s still a real attacking threat, in his sixth year there.

JAMES OLAYINKA

SOUTHEND UNITED MIDFIELDER AGE 20 The on- loan Arsenal man has been the Shrimpers’ class act this season, making his injury in January all the more painful for League Two’s big strugglers.

JAMIE CUMMING

STEVENAGE GOALKEEPER AGE 21 Football League loans are invaluable for young goalkeepers. Cumming is Chelsea’s latest to try his hand( s) at this level, and his solid presence has helped Boro to pull away from relegation.

SCOTT TWINE

SWINDON TOWN MIDFIELDER AGE 21 Twine was among the best players in League Two during a loan spell at Newport earlier this campaign, then impressed for the Robins in the third tier.

LIAM KINSELLA

WALSALL MIDFIELDER AGE 25 The Saddler has energy, ball- winning ability and a sporting family: father Mark won 48 Ireland caps; sister Alice has a gymnastics Commonwealth gold.

CALLUM LANG

WIGAN ATHLETIC FORWARD AGE 22 Wigan’s poor results began to turn when Lang was recalled in January from a loan at Motherwell. He struck six goals in his opening 12 appearances back.

JOSH KNIGHT

WYCOMBE WANDERERS DEFENDER AGE 23 The second tier has been a baptism of fire for Wycombe, but their Leicester loanee has looked the part in central defence and occasionally midfield.