Thursday 14 January 2016 11:52, UK
Ross County striker Liam Boyce has been named Scottish Premiership player of the month for December.
The Northern Ireland international scored five goals in five games last month including a hat-trick in County's 5-2 defeat of Dundee.
Only Celtic's Leigh Griffiths and Adam Rooney of Aberdeen have scored more Premiership goals this season than Boyce's 13, which have helped his side into fifth place after 22 games.
Boyce, who joined County from Cliftonville in the summer of 2014, told Sky Sports News HQ: "I'm definitely in the best form of my career and it's just good to get recognised for the goals I scored.
"I went through a bit of a rough patch when I hadn't scored in five games so it was just good to get back amongst the goals in December.
"Now we want to go on from heme. We're aiming for the top six, first and foremost, but it's also good motivation to have the big semi-final (against Celtic in the League Cup) at the end of the month which will keep the momentum going."
And Boyce admits the Hampden Park showpiece against the holders is his main motivation for making a swift recovery from the hand injury which has sidelined him for two weeks.
"I had an x-ray on it today and I need to keep it covered for another two weeks so I'll be aiming for the Celtic game. Obviously I need to keep myself fit but it's only a hand injury so the semi-final is definitely my target."
Ross County, who secured their place in the last 16 of the Scottish Cup with a 1-0 replay win over Dunfermline on Tuesday, entertain Aberdeen, live on Sky Sports 1, this Sunday at 12.15pm.
