From the Times & Star

Former Shrimps' youngster Phil McLuckie has been named as the Blue Square North Player of the Month for January.

McLuckie, who was part of Morecambe's Academy, is the first Workington Reds player to win the award since Craig Johnston was named as the top man in September 2006.

McLuckie, the former Morecambe player who hails from Workington, will be presented with a bottle of champagne and an engraved Blue Square trophy at a future home game.

The west Cumbrian was delighted with the award and said: "Darren rang me to tell me I had won the award and was chuffed for me. He also said that if we had won at Gateshead he might have won the Manager of the Month."

McLuckie did his bit with the Reds' goal at the International Stadium in a 2-1 defeat and that was the second he's scored in an eventful January.

"I'm enjoying my football and I think I've started to get used to playing right hand side midfield. I've played in the centre of midfield, at right back and even centre-half at Morecambe so I took a bit of getting used to it.

"I think it's helped my confidence that the team has been going well and that I'm playing regularly. We only have a small squad but sometimes that helps, although obviously injuries and suspensions become a problem.

"I think if we can keep playing as we have done we might be able to get to the play-offs but we certainly have the nucleus of a very good team for next season."

That McLuckie goal at Gateshead was his third for the Reds - having scored against King's Lynn and Barrow.

"Until I got my first my finishing had been a bit disappointing but now I've found the net IK hope to get a few more. I'd like to get as near as possible to double figures," he said.

McLuckie has matured immensely this season and has been in particularly good form during January. His determined and energy-filled performances down the right have been a key factor in Workington's good run of form.

"Defender Scott Garner (Mansfield Town) and goalkeeper Matt Lovett (Hampton and Richmond Borough) were the other recipients in Blue Square Premier and Blue Square South respectively.

Gateshead's Ian Bogie was nominated Blue Square North manager of the month for January, which supports Edmondson's view that if Reds had won at the International Stadium - as they might easily have done - he would have got the award.