Tuesday 9 February 2016 13:56, UK
Sheffield Wednesday striker Gary Hooper has been named the PFA Fans' Player of the Month for January in the Sky Bet Championship.
Carlos Carvalhal's side remained unbeaten in the league in January, winning three and drawing one game and Hooper, who sealed a permanent move to Hillsborough during the transfer window, played a key part.
The 28-year-old, who signed a three-and-a-half year deal with the Owls, put in a number of fine performances, scoring five goals on his way to the award for the second tier.
Hull City's Abel Hernandez and Birmingham City midfielder Maikel Kieftenbeld were also on the three-man final shortlist, which was reduced from an initial list including Bobby Zamora (Brighton and Hove Albion), Craig Noone (Cardiff City), Curtis Davies (Hull City), Harry Bunn (Huddersfield Town), Jamie Ward (Nottingham Forest), Joey Barton (Burnley), Luke Chambers (Ipswich Town), Michal Zyro (Wolves) and Ross McCormack (Fulham).
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 will produce a shortlist of contenders. Fans will then be 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 will be 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.
