Rotherham United striker Michael Smith has been named the Sky Bet League One Player of the Month for January.
Rotherham scored five goals in January. Smith headers, whether of the towering or stooping variety, accounted for three of them, a determined run and shot for the fourth, while the fifth was an own goal at Crewe caused by yet another header.
Rotherham United manager Paul Warne said: "To win it two times in a season is hugely impressive.
"He leads the line quite well - I don't know if I've mentioned that!
"He does score the odd goal, which is quite nice as well, so I'm really pleased for him.
"He gets the attention that he deserves but that's because he's part of a really good team and I know he's more than thankful to his teammates for that."
Smith said: “It's really nice to have picked up the award twice this year from a personal point of view, but as I said last time, this is an award for all of the team's efforts.
"I might have got some of the goals but I wouldn't be able to do that without the platform that everyone else provides and you only need to look at how many clean sheets we're keeping to see that this is an effort from across the pitch.
"As grateful as I am to be Player of the Month, I'd trade the personal accolades for us to be promoted come the end of the season. That is the overall objective and that is something you can only achieve as a team and not by yourself."
Sky Sports’ EFL pundit Don Goodman said: “Aerial prowess is a valuable commodity – especially in the rough and tumble of the EFL - and Michael Smith has it in spades. Four January goals were directly, or indirectly, affected by the Rotherham striker’s head, and he was even able to add a fifth with the ball at his feet. Smith’s fantastic season goes from strength to strength.”
Sky Bet EFL trader Ivor Davies said: “October’s winner Michael Smith was at it again during January as the Rotherham striker scored five goals in six games to take his total to sixteen goals on the season (his best ever goal return).
“The Millers now sit six points clear at the top of League One and are into 4/11 from 5/4 at the start of the month to finish the season as Champions.
“Smith will also be chasing individual honours this season as the big frontman sits in third place in the top scorer charts and a 5/1 shot to finish the season as League One’s top marksman.
“Sunderland’s Ross Stewart and Morecambe’s Cole Stockton are both tied on eighteen goals and Sky Bet have the front three at 5/4, 3/1 and 11/2 respectively
“Either way we are confident that Smith and his teammates will have plenty to look forward to over the next couple of months and at 1/25 its almost certain that the South Yorkshire club will once again be playing Championship football next season.”