Coleraine striker Matthew Shevlin laughed off any Erling Haaland comparison but he has shown a similar ruthlessness in front of goal to win the Northern Ireland Football Writers' Association Premiership Player of the Month award.
The 23-year-old scored six goals in the first month of the season, finding the net against Portadown, Carrick Rangers and Glenavon, earning him the inaugural award under the new sponsorship of Dream Spanish Homes.
Shevlin noted that Bannsiders' boss Oran Kearney has made a tactical tweak, telling him to stay in the penalty area more, leaving the link-up play and creativity to team-mates, and that has paid dividends akin to the flying start made by Haaland at Manchester City.
Dream Spanish Homes is a property company run by ex-Coleraine and Cliftonville left-back Gerry Flynn that specialises in finding the ideal homes for those looking to relocate to Spain.
Flynn said: "We're delighted to be the new sponsors of this prestigious award.
"I'm pleased that the first award went to a player from one of my old clubs. Matthew is a smashing young footballer with a real eye for goal."
NIFWA Chair Ruth Gorman said: "We're thrilled to have Dream Spanish Homes on board for the new season. The company has been a long-time supporter of our association, and with Gerry's history in Irish League football, it's a great match."
Glentoran's Aidan Wilson was runner-up while Crusaders star Paul Heatley was third.
Shevlin said: "I'm delighted with my start to the season, but more importantly the team has also made a good start. I think you can attribute it to our good pre-season. Oran Kearney ran us hard and I think that hard work has paid off.
"We're right up there but other teams have also impressed. It's a very competitive league where everyone can win on their day. We were confident going into the Glenavon game and ended up on the end of a heavy defeat, which proved how difficult this league is.
"I'd like to thank the Football Writers' and their new sponsors Dream Spanish Homes for this award."
