Fulham forward Jay Stansfield has been named the EFL’s Young Player of the Month after an exceptional October on loan at his boyhood club Exeter City.
The teenage striker, who made an emotional return to St. James’ Park – where his late father Adam became a City legend – at the end of the summer transfer window, scored his first goals for the Grecians in a 2-0 win at Barnsley. He followed that brace with a brilliant long-range volley in a 4-2 defeat at Steven Sessegnon’s Charlton Athletic before scoring the equaliser – his first goal at the Park – as Exeter came from behind to beat Fleetwood. On the final day of October, the 19 year-old produced a pair of brilliant assists in the derby at Plymouth, starring despite Argyle winning an enthralling encounter 4-2 in front of the Sky cameras.
Stansfield, who wears the same number nine shirt that Exeter retired after Adam passed away due to cancer, has continued his sensational form into November – creating the stoppage-winner that saw Gary Caldwell’s side come from behind to beat Peterborough United on Saturday. He told Exeter City’s official website:
“I’m really happy. I’ve been working hard over the last couple of months to get a rhythm and flow of how League One is played, so thanks to all the staff and all the players for helping me settle into an environment that I’m not used to.
I’ve been working on another side of my game with the assists so I’m not all about goalscoring and I like helping the team out so I need to keep working hard and getting goals and assists. I’m loving it here, getting the amount of game time I need on a regular basis. I’m really enjoying my time here.”
The England under-20 international, who came through Exeter’s youth set-up before joining Fulham in August 2019, is the first Grecian to win this award since Ollie Watkins and joins an illustrious list of previous winners including Dele Alili, Brennan Johnson and James Maddison.
You can donate to the Adam Stansfield Foundation – which we have promoted before – set up in memory of Jay’s father here
The assists against Plymouth were sublime, had De Bruyn done the same, the media would be wetting themselves with praise. I hope Silva can assimilate him into the first team when he returns, sooner rather than later, as we need a talent like him.
Ever so pleased for him. A bright light that we should be giving game time to on his return to us. He is one of several youngsters… including Luke Harris who should be introduced.
I think that l’ve read we have the second oldest squad in the Premier.
And you only have to go back to last week for MUs 18 year old to score the winner against us…we have to think younger and blood some of these youngsters… or lose them due to lack of game time with us and we don’t want to lose them do we ?