Falkirk manager John Hughes has lavished praise on Darren Barr after the defender was named Clydesdale Bank Premier League Player of the Month for March.

Hughes is delighted the 23-year-old's form has been acknowledged by the league's sponsors.

The award has also given his team a morale-boost ahead of Monday's crucial encounter with Aberdeen on Monday.

Barr's form has been pivotal in the Bairns keeping six clean sheets in their last seven games to give them a chance of making the top six.

Falkirk know victory over the Dons in the televised showdown will see them playing against the league's elite after the split.

Although Hughes' focus is solely on his preparation for the trip to Pittodrie, he is ecstatic about his captain's award.

"He wears his heart on his sleeve but he does everything, he is so humble," he said.

"He takes it in his stride, he will be more embarrassed with the award than anything else.

"I think he is one of the reasons we are keeping clean sheets.

"He is different class, he has a real good knack of being in the right place at the right time.

"When it falls in the box it falls to him but that's him learning to read the game."

Hughes also revealed that the giving Barr the skipper's job has seen him lift his performances further and enabled him to develop as a player.

The Falkirk boss also admitted it was a decision which will massively benefit the club in the long term.

He said: "I gave him the captain's armband and that responsibility and you can see him maturing in to it.

"The reason I did it is because I think he is going to be hear for the next three or four years at least.

"We are growing our own and I can see him growing into that captaincy. The reason I am saying that is because he leads by example."

While Hughes is not surprised Barr's consistency has been recognised, he confirmed that other clubs are starting to take notice of the young centre-back.

He added: "My phone has rung once or twice, it has been nothing concrete but it's been a case of people enquiring about him and asking to be kept posted about what is happening with him.

"He takes responsibly on the training pitch and always trains hard.

"He is one of those captains that does not say too much but says it by his style of play."