He was also League One player-of-the-month in December and the PFA fans’ player-of-the-month in February. Fryatt also became the first player in 83 years to hit hat-tricks in successive matches. Fryatt joined City from Walsall in January 2006 where he had scored 27 goals in 49 starts. Fryatt’s progress in his first full season was hampered by an ankle injury and he scored just four times. He was to endure more misery in the following term. Overlooked by manager Martin Allen at the start of the season, he mustered just three goals in a relegation campaign. But he was given a new lease of life by current boss Nigel Pearson and repaid him handsomely. And his reward – a new contract with the club after weeks of speculation about his future.