Forest Green Rovers striker Matty Stevens insists the impact of a new management team paved the way to him being named the Sky Bet League Two Player of the Month for August.
Five goals in as many games for the 23-year-old who managed just three in the EFL in the whole of last season.
His prodigious work rate brought him headers against Sutton and Walsall, and a smart looping finish against Crawley.
Stevens, a former professional boxer, said: “We went into the season with a lot of confidence – and it all started with the opening match against Sutton United.
“I haven’t had a manager put so much faith in me before, but working with Rob and his assistant, Richie (Kyle) has been brilliant.
“The lads love them – and it brings so much confidence to all of us. We’re just looking ahead to the next few matches now and focussing on our targets for the season.”
Sky Sports’ EFL pundit Don Goodman said: “Right in amongst the goals from the off this season, Stevens was a beneficiary of Forest Green’s marauding attacking play in August.
“The stats show him to be by far the best marksman in the division so far and with Jamille Matt also finding his goalscoring boots in August, this Forest Green attack are sure to prove difficult to stop.”
Sky Bet EFL trader Ivor Davies said: “On the back of this new found scoring form, and the faith shown in him by new his new manager, Stevens is our joint favourite at 9/1 (along with Andy Cook of Bradford) to win the League Two top scorer award, having been as big as 100/1 when betting first opened on this market at the start of August.
“We have been very impressed with Forest Green and Stevens so far and will be monitoring their season closely from here on in.”
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.
The No.9 opened his account with a looping header against Sutton United on opening day, before adding a brace at Walsall.
He struck again three days later with a tidy volley to earn Rovers three points at Rochdale, before lofting the second goal of six over the Crawley Town goalkeeper.
