RYAN BARNETT has missed out on a top award but the wing-back says he is in "a really good spot" and loving his football at Wrexham.
The 25-year-old has been in brilliant form this season down the right flank and was recognised for his efforts by being nominated for the League One Player of the Month accolade.
He helped to set up five of Wrexham’s seven goals in October and was unplayable in the 4-1 win against Northampton Town when he had three assists and had a hand in the other strike.
Although Peterborough United winger Kwame Poku scooped the gong for the second month in a row, Barnett responded by scoring his first goal of the season in Saturday's 1-0 home win against Mansfield Town which keeps Wrexham third in the standings.
"It was a proud moment to get nominated against some top players," said Barnett, a back-to-back promotion winner with the Reds.
"Poku has been absolutely unbelievable and probably deserves the award in my eyes.
"It was disappointing not to get it but hopefully I have another good month and see what happens."
Barnett, brought in from Solihull Moors in February 2023, is enjoying life at The Racecourse.
"I am loving it," he said. "The manager gives me that freedom when I go forward and gives me that confidence to take people on.
"All the lads have got that belief in me as well and that is all you can ask for in football.
"You want to be confident, you want to be happy, and I am in a really good spot at the moment."
Barnett, who often found himself being marked by two players as Mansfield sought to nullify his threat, ran at goal and beat a defender before finding the net with a superb strike in the sixth minute.
"It was a bit of a different game for me," said Barnett.
"Mansfield doubled up at times and their wing-back stopped me trying to go down the line.
"As you seen for the goal, I tried to cut in and I just had a feeling when it left my foot that it was going in, and I was really happy.
"It is something the gaffer spoke to me about.
"He wanted a few more goal attempts and luckily it came off."
Mansfield made a real fight it but Wrexham dug deep to secure a hard-fought win.
"It was a really tough game and we had to grind it out," said Barnett,
"We rode our luck at times but three points is the main thing at the end of the day."
Wrexham bounced back from the disappointing 1-0 defeat at Harrogate Town in the FA Cup first round and Barnett always expected a response against Mansfield.
"Since I have been here, every time we have had a disappointing run of results or one game, we have bounced back immediately," he added.
"That is credit to the management team. They have drilled it into us that we have got that strength as a unit."
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