David Artell says that Owen Dale thoroughly deserved the honour of being named as the Sky Bet League One Player of the Year award.

Dale scored four goals in four games to claim the December award and the Alex boss believes that the more consistent end product is coming with the winger.

Artell has told the club’s official website: “Owen fully deserves the award. That is what he is capable of. His end product is improving and he is getting into better positions.

“He is concentrating on his technique and that has seen an improvement in his finishing. His overhead kick was special but his headed goals were the correct technique too. He headed them down and saw them go into the top corner.

“It is about him getting a clean contact on his shot and if it takes a deflection and goes in the opposite corner, then so be it. They all count.

“Owen is a brilliant fella and he is always looking to learn and improve. The challenge is for him to go and produce that form again and get nominated again.

He added: “There are 500 or so players in League One and for him to be voted as the best performer in December is a terrific achievement.”