Defender chosen as EFL Young Player of the Month
Colchester United defender Frankie Kent has been named as the EFL's Young Player of the Month for December after a successful period at the heart of the U's defence.
The 21-year-old recently made his 50th appearance for the club and now a prominent feature in the U's back line, helping John McGreal's side remain unbeaten in December, as well as keeping two clean sheets.
And, after John picked up the Manager of the Month for League Two for December, Frankie has now been named as the best young player across the three EFL divisions for the final month of 2016.
It is an award that has been won in previous months by the likes of Dele Alli, Demarai Gray and Moussa Dembele, so Frankie is in good company.
Having progressed through each age group of Arsenal's Academy, Frankie joined the U's at 16 on a two year scholarship where current first team manager John McGreal was U18s manager at the time.
It is an award that has been won in previous months by the likes of Dele Alli, Demarai Gray and Moussa Dembele, so Frankie is in good company.
Having progressed through each age group of Arsenal's Academy, Frankie joined the U's at 16 on a two year scholarship where current first team manager John McGreal was U18s manager at the time.
On winning the EFL Young Player of the Month award, he said: "It's actually come as a bit of a shock to me, but I'm really pleased to have won it and I just hope we can keep our good form going."
Having taken 19 points from a possible 21 in the lead up to the New Year, the U's have risen to into the thick of the Sky Bet League Two promotion race, success that has been put down to their recent introduction to three at the back.
He continued: "I'm really enjoying the position I'm playing at the moment with our new formation and if you enjoy your football naturally you're going to play better."
After joining Colchester United's Academy on a two year scholarship, Kent captained the U18s side where he won a league trophy.
The former youth team skipper has highlighted the importance of playing first team football from a young age: "You gain so much experience and have to learn so quickly. There's points at stake and every game matters so you need to be 100% on it all the time and I'm very fortunate to have been given an opportunity here that I might not have got elsewhere."
"First team football here has helped me massively.
The former youth team skipper has highlighted the importance of playing first team football from a young age: "You gain so much experience and have to learn so quickly. There's points at stake and every game matters so you need to be 100% on it all the time and I'm very fortunate to have been given an opportunity here that I might not have got elsewhere."
"First team football here has helped me massively.
He also thanked his manager for being a key part of his development: "He's made me the player I am today having worked with him from U16s level," Kent said.
"He tells me the things I don't want to hear and makes me do things I don't necessarily want to do but he's given me the freedom to let me play how I want to play and it's helped."
There are 8,500 young players between the ages of eight and 18 registered with EFL Clubs, making EFL Youth Development the largest centrally coordinated young player programme in world football.
Each season, EFL Clubs invest more than £60m on identifying, training and educating the next generation of football talent.
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