GARETH Owen has put his good form this season down to his run in Stockport Countyés starting line-up.

Centre-back Owen, who is on a year-long loan at Edgeley Park from Oldham Athletic, has won the Express Player of the Month award for September following a string of impressive performances.

There was some strong competition for the award, but Owen has scarcely put a foot wrong all season and he thinks he knows exactly why that is.

Owen said: "Iém just enjoying playing football at the moment, and all Iém looking for now is to stay fit and stay in the team.

"The gaffer has helped me a lot this season and I have been happy with my form.

"Iém delighted to have won the award, but Iém also a bit surprised because defenders donét always get the recognition they deserve.

"Weéve got a good set of lads at Stockport though and that makes things good for me. We have a laugh at times, but we also work hard and ités great when we get a win like on Saturday against Barnet."

And it clearly was an important win at the weekend.

Owen added: "It was vital for us. The manager had been telling us to keep our heads up after the back-to-back defeats, it was so crucial for us not to get too down.

"We played to our capabilities and strengths, we stuck together, and in the end we thoroughly deserved to beat Barnet.

"Nobody has really stuffed us this season. Weéve had good spells in defeats against Walsall, Swindon and Peterborough. Weéve just got to cut out conceding sloppy goals.

"But all the lads are confident. If you look at the table we only need to maybe string another couple of wins together and weéll be up near the play-off places."

Meanwhile, Stoke-based Owen, aged 24, still doesnét know how his medium to long-term future will pan out. He still has another year left on his Oldham contract, but heés more than happy at Stockport at present.

Owen said: "The situationés out of my hands really. Iéve not spoken to anyone at Oldham recently, which is a bit disappointing, but Iém sure weéll sit down in the New Year.

"I would be happy to stay at Stockport though. As I said before I just want to play football."

Owen has only missed one County game this season, the 3-0 home defeat against Shrewsbury on September 12.

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