MICHAEL COULSON was delighted to be nominated for the Sky Bet League Two Player of the Month award but has admitted that York City had several other worthy candidates for the March prize.

Skipper Russell Penn won The Press’ monthly accolade just one point ahead of centre-back John McCombe and on-loan goalkeeper Nick Pope was another potential contender for the divisional honours having kept six successive clean sheets.

Coulson got the nod, though, from Sky Bet’s board of shortlisters, due to decisive goals in wins against Exeter, AFC Wimbledon and Portsmouth.

Rochdale midfielder Jamie Allen went on to pip him to the trophy but Coulson still took satisfaction from being in the shake-up, saying: “There are a lot of players in the league so it's a great achievement for myself and a nice feeling to get a nomination.

“There were five or six, or maybe even 11 players, from our team who could have been shortlisted with the way the month has gone so I was really happy it was me. The most important thing, though, is we are playing well as a team.”

An acknowledgement that the 25-year-old attacker was one of the division’s top-four performers in March also represents a significant reversal in fortunes for a player who was linked with loan moves to Conference clubs during a difficult first half of the season when he failed to make a matchday squad for 14 consecutive matches.

“I never doubted myself but it has been nice to have a run of games,” Coulson confessed. “I was in and out at the start of the season and coming back from a serious injury.

“I never really got the chance to get myself going then but, when I did, people have seen what I can do. I feel confident at the moment and I feel like I am more than capable of playing at this level.

“The recognition also gives me that extra bit of confidence that I will thrive on.”

Despite an injury to top scorer Wes Fletcher, however, Coulson is not taking his place for granted with the addition of new signing Calvin Andrew adding more weight to a strikers’ roster that also includes Ryan Bowman and Ryan Jarvis, as well as rookies Chris Dickinon and Shaq McDonald.

On the current level of competition for those forward positions, Coulson added: “Calv is a big lad with a massive frame who has a bit of pace as well.

“He held the ball up well when he came on against Burton too. Wes is injured but we have got four great strikers at the moment, as well as the two young lads pushing us on, so we all have to make sure we perform well, otherwise we will be out of the side and that's not what you want at this stage of the season.”

Coulson, meanwhile, reckons he can provide the firepower to shoot City into a play-off place with six games remaining and believes he is more of a threat since moving in from the flanks and into a central role.

“As a striker, you always feel pressurised to get goals and I was disappointed with the early chance I had against Burton,” he admitted. “I should have shot earlier but, as long as I am getting chances in games, that's all that matters because I am confident I can put them away.

“I do probably think I am more effective up front. I think I do a better job getting the ball in better areas and getting my shots away.

“I always was a striker as a kid, then I kind of got pushed out wide but I still think I can do a good job out there if needs be. I don't think that's a bad thing that I can offer my services in a few positions.”

Having previously lost out in a fight for a first-team place on the wing to returning loan signing Ryan Brobbel, Coulson is now also enjoying lining up in the same side as Middlesbrough’s Northern Ireland under-21 international, saying: “I thought Brobbs was fantastic when he was here a few months ago.

“He was keeping me out of the team and he has got that pace to drive at defenders. He will definitely create opportunities for strikers to get on the end of and it's just a massive positive that he has come back.”

Coulson and his team-mates can become the first City side to rack up six successive away wins by beating table-topping Rochdale this afternoon and, whilst there are greater incentives to secure maximum points, the former Barnsley and Grimsby attacker feels a club record would be the appropriate reward for the players’ recent efforts.

He reasoned: “The most important thing is to get three points but I think this whole squad deserves credit for what's been done over the last three months and it would definitely be nice to get in the record books. It's been unbelievable but we can't rest on our laurels and be happy with that.

“We have got six games left - hopefully more - so let's just give it our all in every game and see where it gets us. At the moment, we have put ourselves in a position where we have a wonderful opportunity and we have got to take it.

“Rochdale is quite close so there should be a lot of fans there and they are top of the table, so let's test ourselves against them, put on a display and see where we are at. These are the games we all want to play in and, if we get a result, it will send out a message to the other teams around us.

“It would give us a lot of confidence but we're not scared of going there anyway. We have been to Fleetwood, Plymouth and Portsmouth and winning five on the spin away from home spreads more confidence.”

Having recovered from three cruciate ligament injuries during his career, Coulson is now happy to offer morale support to City winger Josh Carson during his recovery from the same set back and to Fletcher as he contends with medial ligament damage.

He also has full faith in the ability of Jeff Miller – the Minstermen’s physio for 27 years – to get both players back fully recovered and on schedule.

“It's been a big disappointment to lose Josh and Wes,” Coulson said. “They are a massive part of the team so we have to see whether we can do it for them this season in a way.

“If they ever need anything, I am here but Jeff has dealt with a lot of injuries in his time and got every player back all right, so they are in good hands. I have spoken to Josh already and I know it's the worst injury you can get.

“Six months is a long time. Unfortunately, it could not have come at a worse time for him but we are all supporting them both.”

Coulson added that the synthetic LARS ligament he had fitted during his last operation in 2012/13 has responded well to the rigours of regular first-team football since the turn of the year.

“Touch wood, I have not had an issue with it all season,” he reveaIed. “I worked hard with it coming back last year and have kept that up this year and I would recommend it to anyone.”


Penn marck up honour for March

YORK City skipper Russell Penn has won his first The Press Player of the Month award.

Penn took the honours for after receiving a point as our third-highest rated player following last weekend's 0-0 home draw with Burton.

Our man-of-the-match McCombe (three) and second-highest rated performer Nick Pope (two) collected the other Press points on offer.

Pope, meanwhile, scooped the two bonus points on offer towards the competition after polling the most man-of-the-match votes from visitors to The Press website and followers of the @daveflett Twitter account.

To be in with a chance of presenting The Press Player of the Month for April with a framed photograph at Bootham Crescent, vote for your man of the match from today’s game at Rochdale online or tweeting @daveflettpress

The Press Player of the Year standings: Lowe 29 points, Carson 26, Oyebanjo 22, Fletcher 21, McGurk 18, McCombe 17, O’Neill 14, Coulson 12, Brobbel 11, Montrose 11, Penn 10, Pope 10, Jarvis 9, Parslow 8, Davies 7, Ingham 7, Smith 7, Bowman 5, Chambers 5, Clay 4, Reed 3, Hayhurst 2, Puri 2, Whitehouse 2, Kettings 1.

The Press Player of the Month for March final standings: Penn 10, McCombe 9, Coulson 8, Pope 7, Carson 6, Lowe 6, Oyebanjo 3, Reed 3, Davies 2, Hayhurst 2.

Goals: Fletcher 13, Jarvis 9, Bowman 8, Carson 5, Coulson 4, Brobbel 3, McCombe 3, Own goals 2, Hayhurst 1, McGurk 1, Montrose 1, O’Neill 1.

Assists: Coulson 7, Bowman 6, Carson 6, O’Neill 5, Brobbel 3, Fletcher 3, Hayhurst 3, Jarvis 3, Oyebanjo 3, Clay 2, Davies 2, McGurk 2, Smith 2, Cresswell 1, Fyfield 1, Ingham 1, Montrose 1.

Bad boys: Montrose ten yellow cards; Oyebanjo seven yellow; Whitehouse six yellow; Carson five yellow; Bowman two red, two yellow; O’Neill, Lowe, Penn, Smith all four yellow; Davies, McCombe, McGurk all three yellow; Cresswell one red, one yellow; Coulson, Fyfield, Hayhurst, Jarvis, Platt, Reed all two yellow; Chambers, Clay, Parslow all one yellow.