Midfielder Phil Trainer’s barnstorming start to the season has been recognised with the Blue Square Bet North player of the month award.

Trainer has notched six goals during August to send him rocketing to the top of the division’s scoring charts.

That impressive form was acknowledged by the league sponsors, who have singled him out as the stand-out performer.

It represents a remarkable turnaround for the Wolverhampton-based 29-year-old who had become the target of much hostility from some sections of the Bucks support despite scoring 10 goals last season.

“It’s tremendous news for Phil and for the club,” said chairman Lee Carter.

“It’s great to get this recognition so early in the season and Phil has been an inspiration to the team and to the club as a whole.

“At this moment in time he’s proved 90 per cent of the supporters of this football club, including one or two inside, wrong.

“Andy Sinton (the Telford manager) said he’d come in and get him playing well so he deserves some credit for what he has done.

“But the player himself has done it. Phil’s attitude has been superb and he really deserves this.”

Sinton narrowly missed out on the manager of the month award, despite Telford’s unbeaten start to the campaign. That has instead gone to Alfreton’s Nicky Law, who has steered his side to the top of the table with six wins out of six.