Cyprus U21 international Jack Sammoutis reckons there is only one thing behind Walton Casuals’ surge up the Ryman Division One South table – boss Anthony Gale.

The former Millwall youngster netted the only goal in Saturday's 1-0 FA Trophy preliminary round triumph over Sittingbourne – hours after Gale had been confirmed as September’s manager of the month.

Casuals, who signed former Tottenham Hotspur and AFC Wimbledon midfielder Jake Nicholson this week, had won five of their six league games last month.

And Sammoutis believes Gale deserves the credit for the turnaround.

“I’ve known Anthony for a long time. On the pitch he’s brilliant, as a manager he’s brilliant but off the pitch he’s even better,” he told the club’s website.

“As a person and a mentor, he’s always pushed me in the right direction and he’s a top man.

“Some of the signing’s he has brought shouldn’t be in this league. A lot of them, like Jack [Nicholson] who has just been brought in could be playing in the Conference easy.

“But, Anthony brings them in because of his personality, because of his character and people want to play for him.”

Casuals exited the Robert Dyas League Cup on Tuesday after a 5-2 defeat to Walton & Hersham.

They host Guernsey tomorrow