Steve Davis pleased that Garratt's outstanding form was recognised by the Football League panel

Alex boss Steve Davis was delighted that his young goalkeeper Ben Garratt was recognised by the Football League’s main sponsor Skybet for their December Player-of-the-Month award. Garratt was on the short-list of four names after his outstanding form for Crewe over a tough month saw him nominated for the prestigious award.

Garratt narrowly missed out for the award with Bradford City defender Rory McArdle honoured, alongside his club manager Phil Parkinson, who won the League One Manager-of-the-Month award.

Davis was pleased that the form of Garratt was recognised by the select panel: “Ben has continued to improve and he had another good month for us. He kept a clean sheet against Bristol City in our 1-0 win and made some crucial saves in the other games.

“I have always told him that to become a top goalkeeper and to push on and play higher then you have to make great saves. The top class goalkeepers produce those game-changing saves at important moments and he is beginning to do that.

“He has always made good saves, but he is now producing those big saves at crucial times.

“He didn’t quite win the award but it is an honour just to be recognised for the award because it showed that you are in-form and playing well. I was delighted that his form has been recognised by the panel because it shows that he is heading in the right direction in his career and becoming really consistent.

He added: “Ben is always improving and always works hard to keep on improving as a goalkeeper.”