Having been voted as the fans' Championship Player of the Month for September, Tammy Abraham was also named the EFL's Young Player of the Month for September.
Summer evening. Mum's home-cooked food on the table. One difference; @bcfctweets boss Lee Johnson is round...
— EFL (@EFL) October 25, 2016
>> https://t.co/hq5nA4PqJZ. pic.twitter.com/qCSGiPQQbV
Tammy hasn't found the back of the net since scoring for the England U-21s in the previous international break and has had a difficult three games since. (And a fourth happening right now in the League Cup against Hull City).
However, lack of proper rest and illness were reasons cited by his manager, Lee Johnson himself for the youngster's off-colour displays. Johnson was an instrumental part in bringing Abraham to Bristol City, and deserves a lot of credit for helping the youngster to his flying start to the season.
"We felt this was going to be his breakthrough year, whether it be with us or somebody else, so we made sure that we put ourselves at the front of the queue."
"He's deserved it. He was superb. He's a constant threat for the Championship and teams need to take notice of him, and they have done, but he's still found a way."
"He's been there when we've needed him, whether it be with a tidy little finish or getting across his man or a poacher's goal."
"Particularly with a young player with top reputations, you have to get everybody to buy into it. They have to know the standards, as far as behaviour, that we expect."
"As soon as we met the family and we met Tammy, it was evident that we were going to get on great like a house on fire, because he is a footballer that likes playing football more than he loves being a footballer."
- Lee Johnson; source: BBC
"When I met the gaffer at the house and he introduced himself to my family, it really built that relationship."
"I had a couple of other teams interested but as soon as I met the gaffer I set my mind to here. You have to go where your heart tells you to."
"When the gaffer believes in you, there is nothing better. He speaks to me literally every single day, keeps in touch and sees how I am doing. You really need that."
"When I don't score he says: 'This is not like you not to get a goal' and we have a few laughs. He tells me just to believe in myself and take confidence out on to the pitch."
- Tammy Abraham; source: BBC
All of Abraham's goals thus far have come from inside the box from similar situations, ranging from capitalising on defensive blunders to latching onto and converting crosses or set-pieces into the box. The youngster admits that he must work more on scoring from different positions. Abraham also spoke about his experiences with none other than Didier Drogba, during his relatively younger days.
"I need more left-footed goals. And shooting from outside the box - I need more variance of finishes."
"You're not going to get a chance every time in the box. After sessions, I keep working and practising with the left foot. Hopefully one day it'll just be fluent."
"Players like Didier Drogba, going to watch him play and seeing him off the pitch as well, I got to see how he was with the players and the youngsters."
"Growing up, he was a good idol. He's a bubbly, funny character. He likes to make people feel welcome. You need those kind of people, wherever you are.
"I remember one time, I couldn't get into the training ground. He saw me walking and he picked me up. He spoke to me and that's when I really got to know what he is like off the pitch."
- Tammy Abraham
In the wake of receiving this award, Abraham's name was inevitably brought up during Antonio Conte's pre-match press conference for the upcoming EFL Cup 4th round tie against West Ham United. Conte spoke highly of the youngster but understandably (and somewhat obviously) claimed that it was too early to tell whether Abraham would be part of first-team plans next season.
"Abraham is another young player who is the future for Chelsea, for sure. He's very young."
"I saw him only one week during the pre-season in America. Then we decided to send him to play every game and get experience, then come back for us."
"He has great potential in the technical and physical aspects. I think the academy is working very well."
"Also in my squad we have Nathaniel Chalobah, Ola Aina, Dominic Solanke, Ruben Loftus-Cheek. You can see the future and it's good."
"It's too early to say (whether Abraham will be involved with the first-team next season). I think it's important to look at the present and work."
- Antonio Conte; source: Evening Standard
Despite having 11 goals to his name in all competitions already, it's easy to forget that Tammy is, at the end of the day, a young and inexperienced player at the senior level, as of now. He's bound to go through his ups and downs through the course of the season. As long as he keeps his head down and continues to work the same way, good things will surely follow.
"I'm certainly not going to argue with that. Opportunity is the word and the most important element in any footballer's career - but of course then you've got to take it."
"I think this [loan move] is the right progression for Tammy, but you see Rashford and what a fantastic job he did for Manchester United and then England - I certainly put Tammy up there, when he is at his best, in that category."
- Lee Johnson
For now, though, let's hope Tammy returns to his free-scoring ways sooner rather than later after a minor blip following the international break!