Cambridge United striker Paul Mullin has been named the Sky Bet League Two Player of the Month for October.
After a second straight nomination for the hard-working forward, he picks up the first EFL Player of the Month award of his career. He scored eight in seven October games alone, even pirouetting for the third goal of his hat-trick against Port Vale.
Cambridge United manager Mark Bonner said: “He's had an outstanding start to the season. To be nominated month one and to win it in month two is a real credit to him. He's really continued his momentum and is always desperate to get back onto the pitch to maintain his current form.
"He'll be the first one to credit the players around him for creating the opportunities, but I have to say his goal return has been exceptional in the short period we have played so far and his overall contribution to the games have been excellent."
Mullin said: "I'm made up to win the award, but it's more a reflection of the team as a whole. It's the players around me who have created me the chances, and I'm very grateful that I've been able to put them away through October.
"I scored four goals in September but that wasn't enough to win that month's award, so I thought I'd double it in October! I'm obviously really pleased to have continued the strong start to the season, and to come back and win the award in the following month after being nominated in September is a good thing, but more importantly we've been picking up the points.”
Sky Sports’ EFL pundit Don Goodman said: “It’s impossible to ignore a striker in the kind of form Paul Mullin enjoyed in October.
“The Cambridge front-man is playing the football of his life and everything he seems to touch in the 18-yard box turns to goals.
“Mullin was a nominee in September too, but a fabulous record of eight goals in seven games means he goes one better this time and the award is richly deserved.”
Sky Bet EFL trader Ivor Davies said: “Paul Mullin was in sensational goalscoring form during October.
“The Cambridge striker netted eight goals in seven games to take his tally to eleven for the season and move to the head of the betting for the Sky Bet League Two top scorer award at 11/4 - not bad for a striker who had never scored more than nine goals in a season before this one.
“Mullin started the season at a huge 100/1 before a ball was kicked to finish as Sky Bet League Two’s leading marksman.
“He’s already opened up a lead of five goals at the top of the tree, so we’ll see if Mullin and Cambridge can keep up their good form in the coming weeks.
“The U’s currently sit in second place and Sky Bet make them odds on at 8/11 to finish in the promotion picture within the top seven.”
The judging panel for the Sky Bet Player of the Month comprises Sky Sports’ EFL expert Don Goodman; EFL Communications Director Mark Rowan and Sky Bet EFL trader Ivor Davies.