The news that Dinos Mavropanos has capped a magnificent international break and superb September by picking up the Sky Bet Player of the Championship award should surprise nobody who has seen his form in the last three weeks.
Carrying his West Ham form into the Nations League, his Greece side won two and drew two of their four fixtures.
On the domestic front, four goals for West Ham and five wins in the last six games is a pretty stupendous turnaround for the Hammers with Dinos ever present.
However, just three months ago, multiple reports had West Ham’s centre back planning for an exit – but those stories ultimately proved unfounded.
West Ham’s Mavropanos has excelled in the Championship
On receiving his September player of the month award, Mavropanos has set the record straight today in an interview in the Sun.co.uk, pouring cold water on claims that he was remotely interested in quitting the club:
“It was a difficult moment for the club getting relegated. There were too many ups and downs and at the end we didn’t make it.
But for me, it was important to be in a place where I feel really good. The environment here is great, the people help us, and the fans are always supporting us.
I want to give back to them.
“For me, it was never an option to just look for a way out.”
And with four goals so far this season, Dinos is ranking higher than several forwards at the club – notably Joel Piroe and Taty Castellanos – no doubt another factor instrumental in winning him the September award.
However, ‘Mav’ thinks it unlikely he’ll carry on scoring at the same rate:
“I don’t want to make people think I’m going to score 10 or 15 goals — although a 1-0 win with me scoring the winner is always nice”
I wouldn’t be so sure: With the quality of delivery from Bowen and Engels’ corners and free kicks, Mavropanos can easily add another half dozen from set pieces. Gonzo was always confident of Dinos notching at least ten goals and becoming a top scorer in the Championship: I’m starting to think he might have had a point.
I love Dinos, but I’m not sure about player of the month. Yes he is scoring goals but his main job is to stop them and we have conceded 11 some of which have been down to the great man.
We wouldnt be WHU if we did things the easy way i just think people enjoy the drama i mean look at the Millwall game absolute typical WHU performance.