Elano’s rich vein of form has been rewarded with him receiving the Thomas Cook Player of the Month award for October.

It all started with that rocket of a free kick against Newcastle, actually in late September but after the previous monthly award had been given to Didi Hamann.

He followed that with two more goals against Middlesbrough, including another wonderful free kick, bagged the only goal of the game against Birmingham before holding his nerve from the penalty spot to put City into the Carling Cup quarter finals on Hallowe’en.

Ashley Grimes, in fine form in the Premier Reserve League and the Pontin’s League, takes the reserves award and Ben Mee gets the nod as the Academy’s player of the month.