Jack Clarke Named Championship Player of the Month
Jack Clarke has been named as the winner of the EFL Championship Player of the Month for September.
Clarke played a key role in what proved to be a strong month for Vertu Motors partner side Sunderland, as the Black Cats took four wins from five matches to sit inside the play-off positions.
The 22-year-old opened the scoring in the first minute to set up the impressive 5-0 win at home to relegated Southampton and then fired in the equaliser away at QPR as Sunderland came back to win 3-1.
A double at Blackburn took him four goals in three games, and although Sunderland were then beaten at home by Cardiff in the following game, the team rounded out the month with a 3-0 success at Sheffield Wednesday – where Clarke again picked up a double.
Six goals in five games was enough to see Clarke take the award ahead of Preston defender Liam Lindsay, Leicester winger Stephy Mavadidi and Plymouth midfielder Finn Azaz.
Azaz enjoyed a solid month for his own Vertu Motors-backed side, which included goals in the 3-0 win against Blackburn and the impressive 6-2 demolition of Norwich City.
“I’m delighted to receive this award, but for me it’s a reflection on how well the team did in September,” Clarke said. “I was fortunate enough to be on the end of some great moves.
“We have a good understanding as a group and the head coach gives me the freedom to express myself – we’ll try to build on a solid start.”
Clarke’s boss at Sunderland, Tony Mowbray, was in contention for the Manager of the Month award after the club’s impressive run, but lost out to Ipswich Town’s Kieran McKenna.