Anthony Knockaert’s form this season has seen the former Leicester forward shortlisted for the Championship Player of the Year award.
The Brighton winger is hopeful he can win this award in honour of his father who passed away in November. Knockaert has been shortlisted along with Leeds’ Chris Wood and Newcastle’s Dwight Gayle.
Knockaert has admitted it was a surprise he was able to maintain his fine form, missing just the one game following his fathers death, as he was expecting to be mentally low for longer than he was.
He told BBC Sussex it would be a ‘great comeback’ if he can scoop the award that would make his father ‘very proud’ too.
‘For what happened with my dad this season I know he would be very proud of me if I win. I hope I will win it and it would be a great comeback for me from what happened for me this season. I didn’t expect this when it happened, I was expecting myself to be out for a long time, I mean mentally.’
He went on to praise the club for the support with Knockaert also appreciative of the backing from Chris Hughton and his Brighton teammates, who attended the funeral with him in France, during a difficult period.
‘I can just thank the club so much and all my teammates and everything to have helped me like they did. I think if I’m here in this position to try to be player of the season in the Championship, it’s because of them, I owe them everything.’
Knockaert, who should be involved as Albion look for a win over Birmingham at the Amex Stadium on Tuesday to return to the top of the table, finished.
‘Obviously it was tough – I’m not going to lie, it was really tough. But I still thought every morning when I woke up, I was just thinking about my dad and thinking I just need to fight for him and that’s maybe the reason I’m here.’
