Grimsby Town goalkeeper James McKeown has won Sky Bet League Two Player of the Month for October.

The 29-year-old kept four clean sheets in five games as Town went four games undefeated in the league, including wins over Carlisle United, Port Vale, and Colchester United.

And the goalkeeper has now been chosen as the league’s player of the month, beating Chuks Aneke, Nicky Maynard, and Reece Brown to the award.

And McKeown has expressed his surprise and pride at being acknowledged as the league’s best player in October.

Speaking exclusively on iFollow Mariners, he said: “I’m proud! Surprised as well to be honest – especially being a goalkeeper, you don’t always expect to get it.

“It is amazing to get the award – it genuinely is – and I’m very proud to get it because you have to have a good enough month just to be noticed, and then obviously I’ve won it.

“Things like this don’t come around very often and you have to enjoy it when it does!

“It’s nice to get a bit of positive attention, but – and I know a lot of people say it – certainly as a goalkeeper I’m not winning that award without the team.”

Sky Sports’ EFL pundit Don Goodman added: “It says something about the strength of McKeown’s record in October by highlighting how rare it is for a goalkeeper to win this award.

“There have only been two stoppers to win any of the EFL monthly awards over the previous five seasons, but McKeown’s five clean sheets and a penalty save made him impossible to ignore.”

Sky Bet EFL trader Ivor Davies said: “Grimsby goalkeeper James McKeown was at his best in October as he chalked up four clean sheets in five games to help ease any relegation fears. The Mariners traded as short as 7/4 at the start of month but are now out to 11/4.”

The judging panel for the Sky Bet Player of the Month comprises Sky Sports’ EFL expert Don Goodman; EFL Communications Director Mark Rowan, League Managers’ Association Director Olaf Dixon and Sky Bet EFL trader Ivor Davies.