Izale McLeod has thanked his team-mates after being voted League One Player of the Month for February.

The Crawley striker has been chosen for the award ahead of Gillingham midfielder Bradley Dack, Bristol City defender Aden Flint and Sheffield United forward Jamie Murphy.

McLeod scored four goals in February, including a hat-trick in a 5-1 thrashing of Barnsley to take his tally to 15 for the season.

His goals helped relegation-threatened Crawley bounce back from successive defeats to take seven points from nine, including an impressive 2-1 win at Swindon Town and holding another promotion hopeful, Sheffield United, to a 1-1 draw.

McLeod told The Argus: “It has been a really good month individually but it has been a really good month for the team. People have taken note of how we are performing.

“Obviously I’m winning the award but congratulations need to go to my team-mates and I’m just really pleased with the way things are going.”

McLeod skippered Crawley for the first time in the unlucky 1-0 defeat at Bradford City in midweek, with Joe Walsh having joined MK Dons on loan and Ryan Dickson not in the starting line-up.

Manager Dean Saunders has not yet revealed who will be captain for tomorrow’s visit of runaway leaders Bristol City.

Reds could be boosted tomorrow by the return from hamstring injuries of defender Lanre Oyebanjo and midfielder Marvin Elliott.