Morgan Whittaker: Plymouth Argyle forward wins Championship Player of the Month award

Morgan Whittaker has scored nine goals in his past 11 games in all competitions

Plymouth Argyle forward Morgan Whittaker has been named Championship Player of the Month for January.

The 23-year-old, who was the subject of a transfer bid from Italian giants Lazio during the window, scored in three of Argyle's four league games last month and provided two assists.

He is also the league's joint-top scorer with 16 goals in 29 appearances.

"It's a wonderful honour," Argyle head coach Ian Foster - who was nominated for manager of the month - said.

"There's some outstanding players at the level, and it's always a difficult month to play off the back of a busy Christmas period, so that shows his levels of fitness and consistency."

Foster says the award is even more deserved, bearing in mind the difficult month Argyle had off the field.

Foster took over the Pilgrims at the start of the month, following Steven Schumacher's departure for Stoke City, while 14 players either arrived or left the club during January.

"He's had to adapt to play under a different coach, with different players, so I'm really pleased for him," he added.

"He's had a lot to think about, he's been top of every news story in this part of the world over that period as well, so it shows it's not affected his on-pitch abilities.

"We're delighted, I'm sure he'll thank his team-mates as well, who've made it possible for him, but he's a wonderfully gifted player and it's well deserved."