Bristol Rovers defender nominated for League Two player-of-season award

Bristol Rovers defender Connor Taylor has been nominated for League Two’s Young Player of the Year.

The 20-year-old who has been on a season long loan from Stoke City, is in contention to win an award that would reward him for his contribution to the Gas this season.

Taylor has made 37 appearances this season and has scored two goals, playing mainly alongside other loanee defender James Connolly, who is from Cardiff City.

In the league matches that he has played in, he has recorded 14 clean sheets, in what has been a settled back line since the start of the New Year.

Rovers is Taylor’s first professional loan away from Championship side Stoke City after brief spells at Ashton United and Chester last season.

Taylor has already won one personal accolade this season as he was awarded the EFL Young Player of the Month Award, following two clean sheets and a man-of-the-match performance against Harrogate Town back in November.

For the end of season award, he is up against fellow defender Shadrach Ogie of Leyton Orient and Newport County midfielder Finn Azaz.

Ogie, who is a left-back by trade, has made 32 appearances for the O’s this season, helping them to safety, having played under both Kenny Jackett and later Richie Wellens.

Azaz meanwhile has made 37 appearances for the Exiles this year and has scored six goals and provided five assists for the Welsh side. He was a promotion winner with Cheltenham Town last year, helping them to the title.

One-time Rovers loanee Dominic Telford, who was at the club in the 2017/18 season has been nominated for the Player of the Season ward, along with Matty Stevens and Kane Wilson of Forest Green Rovers.

The teams of the season will be announced on the night, and the awards will take place on Sunday, April 24.