Norwich City: Borja Sainz wins EFL player of the month award

Norwich City winger Borja Sainz has been crowned Championship player of the month for a second consecutive time.

With four goals and two assists in five appearances during the month, Sainz becomes just the third player to win

the October award, joining record-breaking former Fulham forward Aleksander Mitrovic and former Canary

James Vaughan. His stellar start to the season has now seen him score 12 goals, including two long-range attempts

against a formidable Middlesbrough team, a perfectly-weighted lob to seal victory over Hull, and a deft finish away

at Preston.

The judging panel that chose him as their winner comprised Sky Sports pundit and former West Brom man Don

Goodman, EFL chief executive Trevor Birch and Sky Bet EFL trader Ivor Davies.

At yesterday’s pre-Bristol City press conference, head coach Johannes Hoff Thorup praised Sainz, saying,

“Obviously fantastic,” adding, “He’s trying to take steps to become more of a leader on the pitch, and especially a

guy that we can rely on game to game.” Sainz currently leads the second-tier goalscoring charts with Josh Maja in

second place, three goals behind him, and Joel Piroe in fifth place not even scoring half the league goals the

Spaniard has scored.

“It’s not too much up and down with him but it’s consistent in performance and how he can impact the games. I

think that’s maybe where he has taken the biggest step so far this season.

“He’s consistent and he can consistently go for 90 minutes, which is really, really impressive.”

Sainz said of the accolade: “I’m very happy to win this award, but I must say thank you to the coaching staff and

my teammates. They have helped me a lot, providing me with the belief and support.

“With Norwich City having a mixed start to the season, Borja Sainz is showing no signs of slowing down as he

picks up the Championship Player of the Month award for the second consecutive month. Everything good seems

to be coming through Sainz. He looks full of confidence and three of his four goals in October were absolute

crackers.” “I want to continue to improve and learn. We want to make a special season here in Norwich City and I

will continue giving everything on the pitch to help make that happen,” Goodman continued.