Demetriou has been an invaluable January addition to the Newport defence. Dominant as his side kept four clean sheets, he also made a telling impact with three goals, including a long-range winner against Crawley and a crucial free-kick against Yeovil.
“It’s incredibly unusual for a defender to score three goals in a month, but when two of those goals secures six points and lift his team out of the relegation places then individual acknowledgements are sure to follow,” said Sky Sports’ EFL pundit Don Goodman.
Whilst Sky Bet Football Trading Manager Paul Lowery added: “Mickey has really delivered at both ends of the pitch contributing to four clean sheets but also scoring some sensational goals.”
On being told he’d won the award, Mickey Demetriou said: “I have never been nominated for this award before so I was pleased just to be in contention, to come out on top is a very proud moment for me.”
But the defender was quick to point out the importance of his teammates and the manager in winning the award.
He said: “Receiving this award is great, not only from a personal point of view but it’s also a recognition for what the whole team has achieved this month.
“From where we were at the start of April, to pick up four wins in six games and put our fate in our own hands going into the last game of the season is an unbelievable achievement from all the lads and everyone involved in the club. I wouldn’t be picking up this award without them.”
But Demetriou isn’t getting carried away ahead of Saturday’s huge game vs Notts County.
He said: “It’s like the Gaffer keeps telling us, we haven’t achieved anything yet and we have one more cup final left to hopefully finish this season off where we want to be and be part of an incredible story.”
Don Goodman also had his say on County’s potential “incredible story”: “The revival that we’ve witnessed from Newport under Mick Flynn over the last month has been incredible and they’re within touching distance of securing another season in the EFL.”