SOUTHAMPTON striker Brett Ormerod has won a national award for his goalscoring performances in October.

The former Blackpool forward has been named as Opta's Premiership player of the month.

That followed an impressive October for Ormerod, who began it by bagging a hat-trick in the Worthington Cup rout of Tranmere Rovers.

Ormerod (pictured above) then netted twice in Saints' 2-0 home win over Manchester City.

He failed to find the net in the 1-0 victory at Aston Villa, but struck his sixth goal in four outings during last Sunday's 4-2 St Mary's success against Fulham.

In his three Premiership appearances, Ormerod managed seven on-target shots and three off-target.

Only Arsenal's Sylvain Wiltord, with nine, managed more on-target shots in the month.

Charlton's Jason Euell was the only other Premiership player with seven on-target efforts to his name.

Ormerod is certainly keeping impressive company in the 2002/03 goalscoring lists.

Only two Englishmen have scored more club goals for a Premiership side this season - Michael Owen and Alan Shearer.

And the only other strikers with more than six club goals this season are Thierry Henry, Ruud van Nistelrooy and Gianfranco Zola!

Ormerod, who was playing at non-league Accrington Stanley a few years ago, has pledged to keep his feet firmly on the ground though.

He said: "It is nice being the man of the moment and scoring goals - but I never lose sight of the fact it can be a very fleeting thing.

"I just try and keep my feet on the ground, enjoy it when things are going well and not panic too much if they aren't.

"Having had a few bad times makes you appreciate the good ones all the more.

"When you have come the long way round you value it more - and I wouldn't have it any other way."