PRIZE GIVES DAVIS EXTRA BOOST FOR THE RUN-IN
ATTACKING midfielder Davis Keillor-Dunn says winning the Sky Bet League Two Player of the Month award for February has given him extra motivation to help Oldham Athletic stay up.
The 24-year-old was moved into a more advanced position and responded by scoring five goals in as many games to boost the Latics’ survival prospects.
“These awards are always nice to win, especially when it’s chosen by a panel,” he said. “I’ve been really lucky to win a few different individual ones over the last two seasons at Oldham but this one means the most as the team have had a really good February. I’m just glad I’ve been able to play my part over that period.
“We need to make sure we have a strong finish to the season now to help the club push up the table and repay the fans who have been brilliant since the gaffer (John Sheridan) returned. This just gives me the motivation to keep giving everything I’ve got from now until the end of the season.”
Boss Sheridan added: “Davis has been really good since I came in and it shows with the goals he scored for us last month. He’s a talented player that has a lot to offer in terms of going forwards.
“For players it’s always a boost to get appreciation like this but, with the type of person he is on and off the pitch, I know he’ll want the focus to be on the team and making sure we get the job done we’ve all been working hard to achieve, which is to keep this team in the division.”
Meanwhile, Reading striker Lucas Joao has been named the Championship Player of the Month.
Injured for five months and then slowly regaining form and fitness, the 28-year-old Portuguese exploded into life in February, igniting the Royals’ season with five goals and an assist, which included a lovely solo run and finish in the vital win at Preston.
Reading interim manager Paul Ince said: “Lucas is a goalscorer. In any team, if you want to be successful, you need a goalscorer.
“Unfortunately, he is scoring his goals as part of a team at the wrong end of the table at the moment, but he’s integral to what we’re doing here.
“He’s a very laid-back guy, but I love him. And, importantly, he knows where the net is.”