Walsall's on-loan Stoke City forward Nathan Lowe has been recognised as the EA Sports FC EFL Young Player of the Month for October following an impressive start to his loan stint in WS1.The 19-year-old netted four times during a successful month for the Saddlers, scoring in victories over Grimsby Town and Carlisle United, as well as bagging a brace in a 2-2 draw with Chesterfield.
Speaking after picking up his trophy, Lowe said: "It’s a very proud moment and I’m very pleased to have won this award.
"I wasn’t expecting to win it, so it’s a pleasant surprise and I’m very happy that my goals and performances have been recognised.
"I’m really enjoying my football and appreciate the trust that’s been given to me by the Walsall players, staff and fans.
"It’s a very nice environment for me to grow and thrive and just be my authentic self. I think that’s shown with how I’ve played on the pitch and hopefully I’ve got more to show for the rest of the season."
Confidence is flowing for Lowe, illustrated by his spectacular strike just two minutes into Walsall’s 3-1 win against Carlisle, he continued: "That was just the epitome of confident Nathan.
"Early in the game, on my weaker foot from outside the box, nobody’s expecting me to shoot and I’ve just gone for it.
"I didn’t think, I just did, and I’m proud of myself for taking it on. I don’t want to come across as arrogant or brash, but I always felt like I had it in me to score goals if I was given a run of games.
"The biggest surprise for me has been how quickly I’ve adapted to the toughness of League Two.
"Academy football isn’t very physical, and the focus is more on being technical, whereas some of the defenders I’m coming across in League Two are like NFL players.
"I couldn’t wrap my head around that in my first few games, but then speaking to Jamma, who’s one of the best in the division at picking his battles and getting the better of his opponents physically, he’s given me a few little tips."
Tallying 10 goals from 18 outings so far, the teenage hotshot has settled seamlessly into Mat Sadler’s side, although Lowe believes his first start in the Carabao Cup against Huddersfield Town in August was a defining moment in his transition to life at the Sky Bet League Two Club.
Nathan added: "It was my first home start and I missed a penalty in a game for the first time at any age. To miss my first professional penalty, I was absolutely livid with myself.
"Had that happened six months earlier, I probably would’ve thrown my toys out the pram and sulked, and been taken off after an hour.
"My season could’ve gone a lot differently if the manager had’ve taken me off early. When he left me on, I thought, ‘I’m a better player than I’m showing. You can’t get any worse, so you might as well just go for it'.
"I scored one and didn’t even celebrate because I knew I needed another one. Then I wanted a third, but it didn’t come.
"It was bittersweet after the game because I was still embarrassed about missing the penalty, but it made me realise that maybe I shouldn’t have doubts and I can compete at that level, especially coming up against a League One Club."
Aside from the exposure to regular senior football, Lowe is also benefitting from working alongside experienced campaigners like Albert Adomah, Danny Johnson and Jamille Matt.
"I’m incredibly fortunate with the senior lads in the changing room. The whole point of coming on loan is for me to learn and get better.
"I’m nowhere near the finished article and I probably never will be, so to play alongside these experienced players and learn from them is great. Jamma has been playing almost as long as I’ve been alive, and he’s really taken me under his wing.
"We play up front together most weeks and we’re developing a good partnership – it’s a massive privilege. The manager has also been really good for me.
"He’s a really nice guy and he’s outlined to me how important I am to the team. When you’re young, you need the faith of the manager.
"Knowing that if you’re not quite at the races in one game, you’ll still be playing again the week after, that gives me so much confidence and means I can take more risks."
Having made such a promising start, Lowe has lofty ambitions for the rest of the season.
"I do want to be in and around the golden boot race. If I can end the season with 20+ goals, then I’d say that’s pretty successful and will stand me in good stead heading back to Stoke.
"As a team, I don’t see why we can’t get promoted. We’ve got such a good group that I can’t see us not reaching at least the Play-Offs, but we’re targeting automatic promotion.
"Everyone’s striving to be better, everyone wants to be up there in the table and we’re all searching for that promotion. We’re all united in that push."