STRIKER Marc Richards has paid tribute to his teammates after he was named as the Sky Bet League Two Player of the Month for February.

The 35-year-old beat Carlisle United’s Jamie Devitt, Jimmy Dunne of Accrington Stanley and Cheltenham Town’s Mohamed Eisa to clinch the award decided by a panel including former Ipswich Town manager George Burley and Sky Sports’ Don Goodman.

Richards produced an impressive goal return over the course of the month, where he notched five goals in six games, including two in the comeback win over Port Vale.

However, despite his lucrative personal tally, Richards said he wouldn’t have won the award if it wasn’t for his County Ground teammates.

“I’ve been nominated a couple of times in the past. I scored six in one month when I was at Port Vale and a defender from Luton got four or five clean sheets and he ended up getting it,” said Richards, who also revealed he got took some ribbing from his teammates for the celebration of his winning goal during his home debut against Crewe Alexandra at the end of January.

“It’s nice to pick up an individual award, but that is me picking it up on behalf of my teammates really because if it wasn’t for them, I wouldn’t be in positions to score goals.

“Luke Norris (against Port Vale) could have gone on and taken the shot himself, but he was so unselfish he laid it into my path for an easy finish.’’

He added: “My favourite goal was the winner against Crewe - just because of the state of the game to go a goal down and score in the last minute, with it being my first game as well.

“I got some banter for taking my top off, but when you have a body like this you have to show it off, don’t you?”

Interim boss Matt Taylor played alongside Richards at Northampton Town last season and was delighted to see him claim the prize.

“It’s great for him, Marc has shown throughout his career is that he scores goals,” said Taylor. “I believe it was a really big coup for us to get him, after speaking to him and about the football club it was important we got a goal scorer in.

“Marc’s a great lad, he’s a good leader – that’s what you need.

“He’s got lots of experience and on a personal level, because he’s a mate of mine, I’m happy he’s won the award and got the goals he has done.

“But he’ll want to kick on and get more goals to get the team where it wants to be.”

Richards is also in line for a second award after he was nominated for the PFA Bristol Street Motors Player of the Month Award for February.

Richards faces competition from Accrington Stanley’s Kayden Jackson, Mansfield Town winger Alfie Potter, Carlisle United midfielder Jamie Devitt, Barnet’s Alex Nicholls and Forest Green Rovers star Farrand Rawson.