Star in the making

TRADEMARK TURN . . . Carl Winchester leaves another marker toiling as he displays the silky skills which have seen him prove so effective for Athletic this season.

Classy Carl in running for top charity award

CARL Winchester’s goal scoring turn at Yeovil has thrust him into the joint lead for this season’s Chronicle Star Man award.

The midfield man from Belfast produced a neat left-foot finish to round off a slick move at Huish Park, sending caretaker boss Dean Holden’s men into an advantage which proved to be short-lived.

It was the third goal of the ex-Linfield starlet’s breakthrough campaign.

Though Winchester (21) is the longest-serving first-team player at the club — he made his senior debut in an FA Cup first-round tie at Accrington in November, 2010, aged 17 — it is only this term that he has really come to the fore, having even toyed with quitting and heading back to Northern Ireland over the summer.

He has made 35 appearances this season, impressing with his ability to ghost past opponents at a deceptive pace, and has in the process earned a contract extension which keeps him at Athletic until the end of the 2016-17 campaign.

The latest moment of scoring class from Winchester sees him join fellow midfielder Mike Jones at the head of the current Star Man leader board, with six man-of-the-match nominations apiece in 2014-15.

Captain Liam Kelly is third on four and in behind him is Danny Philliskirk.

And the fact that all four of those players have operated mainly in midfield this season shows exactly where the strength of this current squad lies.

Jabo Ibehre — now plying his trade at Barnsley — is the best-performing individual striker on three, one ahead of Athletic’s top scorer Jonathan Forte.

There are 12 games left in the season as the battle to top the overall charts, bagging a £600 charity cheque courtesy of Indish bar, Restaurant and Grill, heats up. Last year’s prize was won by James Wesolowski.

Star Man nominations —

Carl Winchester 6, Mike Jones 6, Liam Kelly 4, Danny Philliskirk 3, Jabo Ibehre 3, Jonathan Forte 2, James Dayton 2, James Wilson 2, Daniel Johnson 2, Joseph Mills 2, Connor Brown 2, Brian Wilson 1, Genseric Kusunga 1, Timothee Dieng 1, George Elokobi 1, Dominic Poleon 1. Total: 39*

* No Star man awarded for home game with Yeovil.