Millwall striker Bradshaw misses out on Player of the Month award – but plenty of other personal accolades have been ticked off

Tom Bradshaw has ticked off plenty of the individual accolades he wanted to achieve in his career. But the Millwall striker has learned through bitter experience not to get carried away by his January nomination for Championship Player of the Month.

The striker was responsible for four of the Lions’ five goals in that period, netting three times. That included a brace in the 3-0 win over Rotherham at The Den, it was also his effort which deflected off Millers’ defender Cameron Humphreys to round off the scoring, before punishing a dozing Cedric Kipre in a 1-0 victory at Cardiff City.

Bradshaw was also shortlisted for the award in October 2019 – notching five goals in as many matches – only to miss out to Fulham sharpshooter Aleksandar Mitrovic.

“I’d scored five goals in that month and he was on three – but then he ended up scoring a hat-trick in the next game (a 3-2 win over Luton Town) and he took the Player of the Month,” Bradshaw, also shortlisted while with Walsall in League One in 2015, told the South London Press.

“I thought it was in the bag. But obviously now, off the back of the season he had last time, I shouldn’t have taken it for granted! Once he got the hat-trick it was dead and buried.”

Once again for Bradshaw it was a case of close but no cigar. Burnley defender Ian Maatsen took the latest honour ahead of other rivals in Norwich’s Kieran Dowell and Antoine Semenyo, who moved from Bristol City to Bournemouth at the end of the last transfer window.

“From a personal perspective this season has been quite good,” said Bradshaw, 30. “I always wanted to be in the Team Of The Week, to get one of the FIFA cards. It sounds petty, but it’s a cool thing to have. I got that after the Watford game. And I got the man of the match away when we were live on Sky. Again, it’s silly, but I’ve always wanted one of those trophies to put in my little cabinet.

“Championship Player of the Month would be a good one too. Hopefully I can get it this year.”

The former Barnsley and Walsall frontman is known for his hard graft and he looked the first-choice pick up front even before the January departure of Benik Afobe.

Now that is arguably even more the case with Millwall seeing a move for Hibernian’s Kevin Nisbet collapse.

If he needs a rest, would Bradshaw tell that to manager Gary Rowett?

“I feel great physically,” said Bradshaw. “And even if I didn’t, I wouldn’t tell the manager. I’d just drink another Red Bull (laughs). Load up on the caffeine.

“We’re quite lucky where we have quite a lot of equipment and stuff available. We’ve got built-in ice baths, which I try and use every other day or so. It’s just something you get used to. They aren’t enjoyable but they might keep you getting injured for a few more months.

“We’ve got recovery pumps, protein shakes and other supplements – loads of things that go into your recovery. I’ve tried to utilise it this year because in previous seasons there has been more rotation, in terms of not playing week in and week out.

“I’ve played a lot of games this season and really enjoyed it. I feel I’ve helped the team with goals and assists.

“It’s probably fairly unusual there is only one out-and-out striker but it’s something this club has done well for years – getting players who aren’t generally set in one position. We’ve got players that can play multiple positions, which is really useful when we have got a fairly small squad compared to some other clubs at this level.

“There is loads of cover in terms of players who could play up front – Vogey (Andreas Voglsammer), Burkey (Oliver Burke) and Dunc (Duncan Watmore).”

Bradshaw saw his spot-kick claim in Saturday’s 1-1 draw against Sunderland waved away by referee Thomas Bramall. Black Cats left-back Aji Alese tangled with him inside the box.

“It was a penalty, for sure,” said Bradshaw. “I have to be a little bit careful what I say, but the ball was played down the channel and the defender had sold himself a little, going on my left-hand shoulder – which allowed me to go inside.

“I felt his right arm around my waist and his left arm on my shoulder but I thought ‘he’s probably going to let go any second, so I’m going to try and get the shot off’. But he didn’t let go. I was more surprised than anyone when the ref didn’t give it. I always gauge if that went to VAR, would it be given as a penalty? I think it definitely would.”

George Honeyman also had a goal on the half-hour mark disallowed with the officials ruling George Saville was in the eyeline of keeper Anthony Patterson before he spilled Zian Flemming’s shot.

“I always thought the offside rule was pretty clear, but it seems that as seasons go on it is getting more and more complicated,” said Bradshaw.

“The keeper hasn’t hesitated with his dive – he’s seen the ball clearly. From my perspective it was just fumbled. There was no pause or delay in him seeing the shot.

“Saturday was one of the best atmospheres I’ve played in at The Den – and we’ve had some big games down there in the past few years. It felt hostile even if, on paper, you wouldn’t say Millwall-Sunderland would be.

“In fairness to them, they brought a lot of fans too and it all just added to the atmosphere. It felt from the start to finish like the atmosphere was amazing.”

MAIN PICTURE: KEITH GILLARD