Posh star Marcus Maddison win's Football League award for October.
Peterborough United star Marcus Maddison has been named the Sky Bet Football League Young Player of the Month. The award covers players that play in all three divisions of the Sky Bet Football League.
The 21-year-old has been one of the stand-out players in Sky Bet League 1 this season, having scored six goals for Posh in all competitions.
Four of those goals came in an outstanding October for the forward, including stunning long-range free-kicks against Oldham Athletic and Barnsley, before picking up an injury that has kept him on the sidelines during November.
Maddison joined Peterborough in August, having started the season with non-league club Gateshead. The Durham-born player had been with the Newcastle United youth set-up before being released in 2013 without making a first-team appearance.
On receiving the trophy, Maddison said: “I’m pleased to pick up the award. I was happy with how I was playing. The results were the main thing but I did get a few goals and it’s nice to receive a personal award.”
Peterborough manager Darren Ferguson added: "He’s been in fantastic form and fulfilled all the potential we felt he had. He’s scored goals and set-up goals and played in different positions. The injury is a blow for the boy. But he’s working hard to get back and hopefully he does that soon.”
Each season, Football League clubs invest more than £60m on identifying, training and educating the next generation of football talent.
There are 8,500 young players between the ages of 8 and 18 registered with League clubs, making Football League Youth Development the largest centrally co-ordinated young player programme in world football. Over 200 players aged 21 or under make their professional debuts for Football League clubs each season.
Commenting on this month’s recipient, David Wetherall, Head of Youth Development at The Football League, said: “Peterborough United have gained a reputation for giving young players a chance and developing them. With the performances Marcus has put in since he joined them he certainly looks to be trying to make the most of that opportunity.”
Each month the accolade is awarded by The Football League to the young player who has made the most significant contribution and impact in first team football. To be eligible the player must be either under 21 years of age or be playing in the season during which he turns 21. Currently around a quarter of all players registered with Football League clubs are eligible to be considered for this award.