Linfield forward Shayne Lavery is March’s NIFWA Danske Bank Premiership Player of the Month.

The Northern Ireland international scored eight goals in six games, finding the net against Cliftonville, Warrenpoint Town, Carrick Rangers, Dungannon Swifts and Crusaders. The 22-year-old also won international caps against Italy and USA during March.

A delighted Lavery said: “The month started with a defeat to Glentoran, so March could have gone either way for us. But as a team we bounced back and performed well. Personally, I’m on a good run. It was nice to weigh in with a few important goals.”

Reflecting on his time with the national team, Lavery said: “I was only on standby to begin with, but I was called in after a couple of the lads dropped out. It was great to play in a World Cup qualifier against world class players Chiellini and Bonucci. It was also nice to start against the States.

“It’s been a great few weeks for me.”

Glentoran forward Jay Donnelly was runner-up with Glenavon’s Matthew Fitzpatrick in third.