John McGreal says it was “unbelievable” to be nominated for the Sky Bet League Two Manager of the Month award for August – despite missing out on the accolade.

McGreal was pipped to the prize by Morecambe manager Jim Bentley but nevertheless said to be shortlisted for the title in his first full month of senior management was pleasing for him and the club.

U’s winger Brennan Dickenson, who was shortlisted for the League Two Player of the Month award for August, also missed out after Doncaster Rovers’ James Coppinger won the prize.

However, McGreal said: “It’s unbelievable to get that recognition and it’s fantastic not only for myself but it’s all about the players who give these managers the recognition.

“The manager just points a few fingers and does a little bit on the touchline!

“Brennan has been fantastic with three goals and a couple of assists, so he’s been great.

“It highlights the club – it was a disappointment to be relegated but we’re trying to be positive and get the club moving forward.”

McGreal met with new England senior manager Sam Allardyce and his assistant Sammy Lee when England under-21s played their Norway counterparts at the Weston Homes Community Stadium, on Tuesday night.

“Sammy Lee is my mum’s cousin, so I know him quite well,” said McGreal.

“It was great to be invited into the boardroom - it was just idle chat, although there were little bits about football.

“You look at some of the movement of the England under-21 players and the quality and the Premier League is a different league that they’re playing in with the quality that they have.

“We have to keep profiling the football club and it’s doing a lot of good out there throughout the community and the more that we keep doing that, the more our name will be highlighted.”