Roberto Firmino and Gary Hooper lead PFA Fans' Player of the Month awards for January

By Oliver Yew

Tuesday 9 February 2016 17:06, UK

Roberto Firmino, Gary Hooper, Max Power and Shay McCartan have been named the PFA Fans' Players of the Month for January.

Firmino, who moved to Anfield last summer from Hoffenheim in an initial £21.3m deal, hit the headlines in January by scoring four goals in as many games in the Premier League.

The Brazilian, who beat Manchester United captain Wayne Rooney and Tottenham's Harry Kane to the top-flight award, scored twice in his side's 3-3 draw with title challengers Arsenal, before firing another double in his side's thrilling 5-4 win at Norwich.

The Championship accolade has been picked up by Sheffield Wednesday striker Gary Hooper, who scored five goals in January to help his side stay unbeaten during the month.

The 28-year-old, who joined Wednesday on a three-and-a-half-year permanent deal from Norwich in the transfer window, saw off competition from Hull City striker Abel Hernandez and Birmingham midfielder Maikel Kieftenbeld.

In League One, Wigan midfielder Max Power topped the poll ahead of Port Vale forward Ajay Leitch-Smith and Barnsley striker Sam Winnall.

Power scored two goals as Wigan moved up to third in the league following an unbeaten six-game run during January.

Finally, the League Two award went to Accrington Stanley forward Shay McCartan after his three January goals helped him claim more votes than Oxford United striker Kemar Roofe and Plymouth Argyle midfielder Gregg Wylde.

Every month throughout the English football season, fans will have the opportunity to vote on skysports.com for who they think has been the best player in the Barclays Premier League, Sky Bet Championship, Sky Bet League One and Sky Bet League Two, after Sky Sports teamed up with the PFA to be the digital platform for the Awards.

Before the vote opens each month, an expert panel produce a shortlist of contenders. Fans are then able to vote for the player they think deserves the award.

The panel includes Sky Sports football pundits Paul Merson, Ian Holloway and Peter Beagrie.

That trio are then joined by Mike Riley, general manager of the Professional Game Match Officials, and Malcolm Clarke, chairman of the Football Supporters Federation, as well as the winning fan from each month.