Thursday 7 September 2017 12:50, UK
Cardiff and Ipswich’s impressive starts to the Sky Bet Championship season have been recognised after both clubs received nominations in the Manager and Player of the Month awards for August.
Bluebirds' boss Neil Warnock and winger Nathaniel Mendez-Laing have been nominated, along with Ipswich manager Mick McCarthy and striker Martyn Waghorn.
Warnock led his side to a perfect month, as five wins from as many matches took them to the top of the table.
Mendez-Laing was a key part of that success as he scored four goals from four starts, including a stunning finish in the win over Sheffield United.
Ipswich were among the pre-season favourites for relegation rather than promotion but the Suffolk club has started the new campaign in impressive fashion.
Manager McCarthy has guided his team to four victories from five games in August, despite injuries and illness affecting his selection options.
Former Leicester striker Waghorn - signed from Rangers after the season had begun - has enjoyed a dramatic start to life at Portman Road, netting four goals with his first four shots on target as an Ipswich player.
Leeds boss Thomas Christiansen has swiftly won over the Leeds faithful, with the Dane managing to successfully combine organisation with thrilling attacking play as United secured 11 points from five unbeaten games, including impressive 2-0 away wins at Sunderland and Nottingham Forest.
Meanwhile, Wolves boss Nuno Espirito Santo has also hit the ground running in his new job.
Wolves may have been one of the big spenders in the division over the summer but the Portuguese head coach appears to have used his funds wisely as his side secured three wins in a haul of 10 points from their first five games.
Elsewhere, in the Player of the Month category, Preston full-back Darnell Fisher also earns a nod after starting the season in good form, playing his part in ensuring North End kept four clean sheets in five August games.
Rounding off the nominations is Sheffield United striker Billy Sharp - last season's League One Player of the Year - who is off and running in 2017/18 with four goals from five matches after becoming the only Blades player to score in the league during August.
The winners will be announced on Friday.
