SKY BET LEAGUE ONE PLAYER OF THE MONTH FREDDIE LADAPO

‘Every single one of the players knows that I couldn’t have done anything without them. They have helped me settle in so, for us all as a team, it’s a massive achievement’

Plymouth Argyle striker Freddie Ladapo has described winning the Sky Bet League One Player of the Month award for October as one of the highlights of his career.

Ladapo picked up the prize after scoring six goals in as many games for the Pilgrims, as well as coming up with two assists. His sudden goalscoring spree has led to some improved results in recent matches for Argyle as they battle to recover from a dismal start to the season.

Ladapo beat off competition from Wycombe Wanderers striker Adebayo Akinfenwa, Oxford United goalkeeper Simon Eastwood and Gillingham forward Tom Eaves to win the award. He told the Plymouth Herald: “It feels fantastic. I have probably dreamed of this moment for as long as I have been playing in League One, and to finally get it is a wonderful achievement.”

Ladapo’s run of six goals in October began with a closerange header in Argyle’s 1-0 win against AFC Wimbledon at Home Park. Buoyed by that effort, the 25-year-old summer signing hit top form and the player-of-the-month prize came into his mind.

Ladapo said: “When I got the first goal against Wimbledon, I was optimistic and then when I started scoring more I remember saying to the boys: ‘I really do want this award’. It’s a very big deal for me. This probably the first proper award that I have actually received.

“The goal against Wimbledon was the weight-off-the-shoulders moment. When that went in, I didn’t need to worry or maybe lash at things, probably like I would have if I hadn’t scored that one.

“You go all season looking for a run of goals and then they all just come flooding in, in the space of one month.”

Ladapo admitted his favourite goal in October was the first of the two he grabbed in the 3-2 home defeat to Burton Albion. He said: “That’s a goal I’ve really wanted to score. You come inside with a few stepovers and you bend it in.

“It has always been a dream, rather than it actually happening, so when it did happen it gave me confidence to maybe take more shots.”

Ladapo carried out a series of media interviews after collecting the player-of-the-month award. That did not escape the attention of his team-mates. He said: “I don’t think I’m going to get to live this down because they’ve seen all the pictures being taken!

“It’s nice, though. Every single one of the players knows that I couldn’t have done anything without them. They have helped me settle in and carried me along in times when probably I would have missed chances, or maybe I didn’t play well. So, for us all as a team, it’s a massive achievement.”