Sessegnon takes top billing at EFL Awards

Ryan Sessegnon swept the board at the EFL Awards after a stunning season with Fulham.

The 17-year-old wideman has followed up his success with England at last summer’s European Under-19 Championship by scoring 14 goals to date in the Cottagers’ promotion push.

His efforts were rewarded on Saturday when he became the first player on record from outside the top flight to be nominated for the PFA young player of the season award, so it was no surprise that he should be among the big winners at the Football League’s gala evening.

But the scope of his success was still noteworthy as, in addition to being named in the team of the season and the club-developed XI, he was named as the Sky Bet Championship’s player of the season and apprentice of the year and the Football League’s young player of the season.

Blackburn’s Bradley Dack and Accrington’s Billy Kee took the player of the year honours for Leagues One and Two respectively, with Luton’s Olly Lee winning the goal of the season award for his strike from his own half against Cambridge in November.

The team of the season saw the three divisional selections merged into a combined XI which saw Norwich’s John Ruddy in goal behind a back four of Wigan’s Nathan Byrne, Wolves captain Conor Coady, Blackburn skipper Charlie Mulgrew and Sessegnon.

Wolves playmaker Ruben Neves was flanked by Dack and Norwich’s James Maddison in midfield with Kee, Bristol City’s Bobby Reid and Wycombe powerhouse Adebayo Akinfenwa up front.

Rickie Lambert’s long career was honoured with the Sir Tom Finney Award, commentator John Motson was honoured for his contribution to league football and the special project award went to QPR’s Game for Grenfell in September, organised to raise money for those affected by the horrific tower block fire in North Kensington.