A common factor in Runcorn Linnets' rise to the top of The Hallmark Security League Premier Division at New Year has been the ever-consistent form of defender Danny O'Brien.

The one-time midfield player turned full back has just kept on producing the goods in his own inimitable style - understated but at the same time spectacular - and club officials had no hesitation in naming Danny as first team Millbank Player of the Month for December.

It is not as if there weren't other strong candidates. Attacking midfielder Kris Holt has been a revelation since returning to the Runcorn ranks full-time from dual registration with Atherton Collieries (his hat-trick against Barnton being the obvious highlight) while Kieran Nolan has excelled in the holding role; Freddie Potter came off the bench to score twice in the Runcorn derby win on Boxing Day, promptly adding a further brace to steer the Linnets to 2-0 victory over Hanley Town, while Aaron Morris and Jimmy Moore have cemented an already strong central defensive partnership with three consecutive clean sheet triumphs.

But you just can't keep a good man down and Danny O'Brien's nomination completes a straight hat-trick of club Player of the Month awards for the former Cammell Laird 1907 player to again underline his genuine importance to the team's on-field strategy and overall performance.

The statistics tell their own tale with Danny again proving much more than an excellent defender as the Linnets negotiated a tough Christmas schedule of three league games over the holiday period – including two matches against top-four opposition in four days – with a triple shut out.

Danny has again used his set-piece prowess – be it from corners, penalties or free-kicks – to deliver a quartet of important goals in the closing month of 2017, taking his campaign total to eight while remaining highly influential in open play when going forward or covering in defence.