Cardiff City winger, Nathaniel Mendez-Laing, has been named the EFL's Sky Bet Championship Player of the Month for August.
The award win caps a sensational first month in the Welsh capital for the 25-year-old, who scored five goals for the Bluebirds throughout August following his arrival at Cardiff City Stadium.
“It’s been a great first month of Championship football for me and I’ve enjoyed every minute of it,” said Mendez-Laing upon lifting the award.
“It’s a plus to receive this award on behalf of all the lads following the month we’ve had. Obviously we want to maintain the form we’ve been in and kick on.”
In order to win the prestigious award, Mendez-Laing came out on top of the EFL’s four-man shortlist, which also included Darnell Fisher (Preston North End), Billy Sharp (Sheffield United) and Martyn Waghorn (Ipswich Town).
He joins Neil Warnock in being recognised by the EFL for City’s perfect league performances in August, with the Gaffer being named the Sky Bet Championship Manager of the Month.
Sky Sports’ EFL pundit Don Goodman said: “Cardiff fans could be forgiven for reacting to the signing of Mendez-Laing with a little less gusto than the subsequent arrivals of Lee Tomlin and Danny Ward, but the former Wolves youth product is certainly making a name for himself in the Championship.
"The challenge for coaches was to turn Mendez-Laing’s talent into consistent performances and his brace against an Aston Villa side including John Terry was particularly memorable as we saw his full catalogue of abilities.”
Sky Bet Football Trading Manager Mikey Mumford added: “Extraordinary strength and stature saw him open the scoring against Aston Villa with a back post header but his second was even better, as he left a leaden-footed Terry before angling home a sumptuous second.
"Perhaps more encouraging is the fact he backed those strikes up, contributing goals in the victories over Sheffield United and Wolves taking his tally to the month to four which has seen his price contract to 40/1 from 100/1 to top the scoring charts.”
