NEWPORT County AFC striker Will Evans is a contender for February’s League Two player of the month after passing a goal milestone.

The Exiles striker scored five goals and provided two assists in six games with strikes against Swindon, Walsall, Notts County Harrogate and a stunner to beat Gillingham.

Evans failed to score in just one game in February (Milton Keynes Dons) as he hit the 20-goal mark for League Two - becoming the second County player after Dom Telford to do that since the return to the EFL - and took his total to 24 in all competitions.

He will hope to claim the gong after missing out in August despite starting the season with a bang by scoring six times, much to the annoyance of his boss.

“I have to question who the panel are, what they are looking at and why he hasn’t won it,” said  manager Graham Coughlan at the time. “These so-called experts, I wouldn’t pay much attention to what they say."

South Wales Argus: WINNER: Dom Telford won back-to-back awards in October and November of 2021 (Pic: EFL)WINNER: Dom Telford won back-to-back awards in October and November of 2021 (Pic: EFL)

The hard-working striker is hoping to become the fifth County player to win the honour and first since striker Dom Telford won back-to-back awards in October and November of 2021.

Centre-back Mickey Demetriou won the award for April 2017 after the great escape then striker Frank Nouble was named the winner after a flying start to the next campaign.

Goalkeeper Joe Day was recognised after keeping six clean sheets in seven games when County made the play-offs in April 2019.

Evans will be up against his former captain after Demetriou was nominated for helping Crewe challenge for automatic promotion.

The central defender helped keep three clean sheets, took over as skipper, provided an assist and scored against Stockport and Notts County.

Walsall defender Emmanuel Adeboyega, a Norwich loanee who scored three goals when helping the Saddlers climb into the play-offs, and Doncaster attacking midfielder Hakeeb Adelakun, who scored three winners in five games and notched four assists, are also in the mix.

The winner announced on Friday along with the manager of the month, with County’s Coughlan missing out despite guiding the club to four wins from six games to become play-off contenders.

Bradford’s Graham Alexander is a contender after the Bantams claimed 10 points in four games, and kept clean sheets in all of them.

Nigel Clough led Mansfield to top of the table with 12 points, and 20 goals, from five games.

Walsall claimed 14 points from seven games to earn a nomination for Mat Sadler while Crewe’s Lee Bell claimed 11 points from five unbeaten games.