Forest Green Rovers midfielder Reece Brown has been named Sky Bet League Two player of the month for March.

Brown was involved in seven of Rovers' eight goals during the month.

He scored five of those including a brace against Port Vale.

The former Birmingham City man also celebrated his 23rd birthday at the start of the month and has played a crucial role in Forest Green's push for the play-offs

Forest Green manager Mark Cooper has been with the way Brown has performed since coming back into the team after he was given a breather.

“I feel very pleased for him. He deserves it, he’s had a great season so far," said Cooper.

“We gave him a little bit of a breather a few weeks ago and he’s reaping the benefits of that.

"He’s come back strong and hopefully he can see it through to the end of the season.

“I think he can do even more. I think he can drive the team forward and score more goals and make some more goals.”

Having turned 23 on March 3, Brown kicked off the month with the opening goal against Lincoln the day before.

He was the star of the show when FGR headed to the Jobserve Community Stadium, getting two assists and playing a pivotal role in the build-up for the second goal of the evening, which he described as his favourite of them all along with his fine solo effort against Carlisle United, before netting a brace away to Port Vale.

His goals helped FGR to cement sixth place in the division and with just five games remaining, he now wants to be the driving force in getting the club their second promotion in three seasons.

“I’m happy to receive the award,” he said.

“I think I was nominated once earlier in the season and didn’t quite get it done, I didn’t score enough goals, but I am happy to get it now,”

“I felt like each game we went into, I just went in thinking I could score again. Once you get one or two, you just get that little feeling.

“It was a good month, it was my birthday month as well and this is the best present I could have got.

“Once you’ve got those goals, you just seem to get yourself in those areas where the opportunity can be presented to you and luckily I could put them away.

“My favourite? For the build-up, my Colchester goal, and then just for the goal itself, the Carlisle goal at home.

“Promotion is all we want now with five games to go, possibly another three, and hopefully we’re promoted and playing in League One next season.”

Sky Sports’ EFL pundit Don Goodman said: “Mark Cooper was full of praise for Reece Brown after his goals downed Port Vale in the middle of the month, highlighting Brown’s impressive work rate, which fans might not always recognise.

“His contract with Rovers is up at the end of the season, but the club will be doing absolutely everything they can to keep the former Birmingham trainee on their books for the long term.”

Sky Bet EFL trader Ivor Davies said: “Reece Brown has also been in the goal-scoring form of his life and his goals and performances have helped keep Forest Green in the Play-Off places (1/6 to make top seven).

“The vegan-friendly club are an 11/4 shot for promotion having roughly traded around that price for the past month or so and we will continue to keep them onside.”

The judging panel for the Sky Bet Player of the Month comprised of Sky Sports’ EFL expert Don Goodman; EFL Communications Director Mark Rowan, League Managers’ Association Director Olaf Dixon and Sky Bet EFL trader Ivor Davies.

Forest Green, who are currently sixth, take on 22nd place Macclesfield Town at the New Lawn on Saturday.