Northern Ireland striker Dion Charles has been named the English Football League’s Player of the Week after his hat-trick heroics for Bolton Wanderers at the weekend.
The 28-year-old found the back of the net three times, all in the first half, in Wanderers’ 5-2 win over Reading at the Toughsheet Community Stadium.
Charles grabbed Bolton’s second goal of the game in the 21st minute from the penalty spot before doubling his tally 13 minutes later, then he completed his treble with a second penalty four minutes into first half stoppage time.
The 22-times capped international has now struck four goals in what has been a tough campaign so far for the Whites, who are 16th in League One having won just two of their opening six games.
But speaking after the game, Charles hopes their goal-frenzy against Reading can kickstart their season as they aim for promotion to the Championship.
“It’s not been the best of starts but that’s my fifth of the season now, four in the League, and hopefully that kick starts everyone’s season,” said the Preston-born forward.
“We had a good sit down at the start of the week and said a few home truths and we went out there and played with a lot more freedom and it was a brilliant result for us.
“It felt more like us, the performance today. Everyone was at it and it was a brilliant result it was great for the fans as well. The ones who were here today stuck by us and it felt at the end when we’re all going over and clapping to them we were all together again.
“That’s a performance we’ve been looking for all season. We know ourselves we’ve been under par but hopefully that kick-starts our season now.”
Meanwhile, fellow Northern Ireland star Ethan Galbraith was also named in the EFL’s Team of the Week after scoring twice for Leyton Orient in their 4-1 win over Stockport County on Saturday.
The 23-year-old scored twice in the first half to help earn the O’s their second win of the campaign at Brisbane Road which moves them up to 20th in the League One table.