Manchester City forward Liam Delap has been named the Premier League 2 Player of the Season for 2020/21.
The 18-year-old enjoyed a record-breaking campaign, scoring 24 goals in Premier League 2, the most in one season by a player in the competition's history.
His contribution was a major factor as Man City claimed the Division 1 title, finishing 14 points clear of 2019/20 champions Chelsea.
“The talent in the league is so high and to win [the award] is a great achievement, and I’m very proud of it," said Delap.
“I sat down at the start of the season and set some targets. I think I smashed all of those targets so it’s just been a great season.
“Even if you score two in a game, you want that extra hunger to go and get the third, just to keep adding your numbers and making it hard for everyone to catch up with.
"I feel like it’s just in me where I just want more and more.”
First-team opportunities
Delap's form was rewarded when he was handed a Premier League debut by Pep Guardiola, coming on as 51st-minute substitute against Leicester City in September 2020.
That came three days after Delap scored on his senior debut as City beat AFC Bournemouth 2-1 in the EFL Cup, while he also featured in an FA Cup win over Birmingham City.
The son of Rory Delap, who made 359 Premier League appearances, Liam also won November's PL2 Player of the Month award.
He was selected by a panel of the Premier League Football Development Department ahead of seven other nominees: Louie Barry (Aston Villa), Charlie Cresswell (Leeds United), Sam Greenwood (Leeds), Connor McBride (Blackburn Rovers), Cole Palmer (Man City), Aaron Ramsey (Villa) and Shola Shoretire (Manchester United).
Past winners
He follows in the footsteps of 2019/20 PL2 Player of the Season Curtis Jones of Liverpool.
The previous winners were Brighton & Hove Albion's Aaron Connolly in 2018/19, Arsenal's Reiss Nelson in 2017/18 and Oliver McBurnie, now of Sheffield United, in 2016/17 with Swansea City.
Also in this series
Part 2: Mount wins 2020/21 Academy Graduate award
Part 3: Jennings and Ashworth receive Eamonn Dolan award
Part 4: Best U18 and U23 goals and saves of the season