With last season cut short, there was added expectation on the 2020/21 League One campaign and the first few months have not disappointed.
There have been some fantastic performers so far but only six players could make it onto the shortlist for the GMS Fans’ Player of the Month for September and October.
With the vote now open, we’ve outlined the six nominees and what they’ve done to earn their place on the list…
Siriki Dembele – Peterborough United
With Ivan Toney joining Brentford in the summer, the big question for the Posh heading into the 2020/21 campaign was how they were going to replace his influence in the final third.
Dembele has stepped up for his side and helped them ascend to the top of the League One table. In September and October, the 24-year-old scored five times – matching his best league goal tally for a single season – and has added four assists.
Whether it’s as a centre-forward or off the left, the 24-year-old has proven a nightmare for opposing defences this term and it seems he may be just getting started.
Gwion Edwards – Ipswich Town
The Welsh attacker has proven himself a wizard for the Tractorboys this term, helping them to put their disappointing end to the 2019/20 behind them and move into the top two.
Edwards’ quality has always been clear but he showed a ruthlessness in front of goal over the first two months of the season that meant many opponents just couldn’t handle him.
The 27-year-old scored five goals and added two assists in September and October – a hugely impressive haul.
Jorge Grant – Lincoln City
The attacking midfielder has thrived in League One since joining Lincoln from Nottingham Forest last summer but he has been at the peak of his powers over the first two months of the season.
Whether he’s playing out on the left or in the centre of the park, Grant’s influence has been integral to the Imps’ success this term and they’ll need him to keep firing if they want to stay in the top six.
The 25-year-old scored six times and added two assists in League One during the first two months of the season and hasn’t shown any signs of slowing down.
George Honeyman – Hull City
Honeyman’s debut season at Hull may have seen them relegated but the midfielder has been in phenomenal form in their first two months back in League One.
The 26-year-old has been ever-present as the Tigers have moved to within four points of the top with a game in hand over the league leaders, adding two goals and five assists from central midfield.
His dynamism and energy in the centre of the park has been key to Hull’s success in September and October, everyone at the KCOM Stadium will hope that can continue throughout the season.
Jayson Leutwiler – Fleetwood Town
After a shaky start to the season that saw Joey Barton’s men lose three of their first four league games, Leutwiler’s introduction to the starting XI has helped Fleetwood transform their fortunes and rise up the League One table.
The goalkeeper made six League One appearances for the Fishermen in September and October, conceding just two goals and keeping four clean sheets in that period.
Fleetwood are now within reach of the top six and if their summer signing can continue to impress between the sticks, it will be a huge boost to their play-off hopes.
Lewis Montsma – Lincoln City
The Imps have surprised many with their fast start to the season and the performances of Montsma, who joined from FC Dordrecht in the summer, have been integral to Michael Appleton’s side’s rise to fourth in League One.
The 22-year-old has been a mainstay at the heart of the Imps backline, which boasts one of the most impressive defensive records in the division, and produced countless stellar performances during the first two months of the season.
As well as leading his side in average interceptions and clearances per game (Whoscored), the Dutchman has proven a threat in the opposition box – scoring three times in League One already.