Kazaiah Sterling has been named the Premier League 2 Player of the Month for January 2019.
The 20-year-old striker scored the first of Tottenham Hotspur's January PL2 goals and then set up the other as the north Londoners drew 1-1 with Liverpool and then West Ham United.
He was selected as the winner by the Premier League's Football Development Panel from a shortlist that also featured Jahmal Hector-Ingram (West Ham), Anthony Spyrou (Norwich City) and Thibaud Verlinden (Stoke City).
"It's a really good feeling," says Sterling. "There are so many players in the league and to be nominated out of all of them is a really special feeling."
First-team dream
Sterling also made a first-team appearance against Crystal Palace in the FA Cup last month, and his form has been rewarded with a loan move to League One side Sunderland.
The examples of fellow academy graduates Harry Winks and Oliver Skipp, who have become regulars in Spurs' first-team, have given him belief that he too can impress Mauricio Pochettino and earn further chances in future.
"Seeing young players that you've played with progress to the first team and do well shows you that it's possible, if you do the right things, keep working hard and take your opportunities, as they've done," says Sterling.
The forward is now relishing a promotion battle with Sunderland for the rest of 2018/19, having moved to the Stadium of Light on transfer deadline day.
"I'm really excited," he says. "I'm getting older now so experiencing first-team football, especially as we're going for promotion, I feel the pressure is going to be good for me."
2018/19 PL2 monthly award winners
August: Danny Loader (Reading) Read more
September: Oliver Skipp (Spurs) Read more
October: Josh Barrett (Reading) Read more
November: Aaron Connolly (Brighton) Read more
December: Josh Knight (Leicester) Read more
January: Kazaiah Sterling (Spurs)
