GARY BECKETT has been chosen as the Opel/Soccer Writers Player of the Month for December. During that time the 22-year-old Derry striker scored five goals in four successive games.

Unfortnnately, Beckett was injured in the game against Sligo and is still sidelined. By common consent, however, he was Derry's best player in their storming December run which saw them pull six points clear at the top of the table.

Something of a chip off the old Liam Coyle block, the Fermangah-born Beckett first linked up with manager Felix Healy when moving from Omagh Town to Coleraine, before joining Derry last season.

Beckett beat off strong challenges from team-mates Peter Hutton and Gavin Dykes, as well as Galway's Mark Herrick and Bray's Richie Parsons.