Thursday, March 9, 2017

Huddersfield and Preston nominated for February manager and player awards double

David Wagner led Huddersfield to 16 points from their six league games in February
David Wagner led Huddersfield to 16 points from their six league games in February

Huddersfield Town and Preston North End have received double nominations in the Sky Bet Championship awards for February.

Preston boss Simon Grayson and his Terriers counterpart David Wagner are in the frame for the managerial award, while North End midfielder Aiden McGeady and Huddersfield striker Izzy Brown are up for the players' gong.

Newcastle's Rafa Benitez and Slavisa Jokanovic of Fulham complete the managerial short list, while the other players in contention are Brentford winger Jota and Cardiff forward Kenneth Zohore.

Preston were unbeaten in February under Simon Grayson
Preston were unbeaten in February under Simon Grayson

Under Benitez, Newcastle collected 15 points from seven unbeaten games while Preston went unbeaten as they closed in on the play-off places __with three wins and two draws from five games.

Fulham scored at least two goals in all but one of their February fixtures as they earned 13 points from six games to climb to seventh and Huddersfield took 16 points from six games, a run which included home wins over promotion rivals Brighton, Leeds and Reading.

Rafa Benitez cemented Newcastle
Rafa Benitez cemented Newcastle's lead at the top of the Championship in February

Brown has been central in that run; he was involved in all three goals against promotion rivals Brighton and scored against Leeds and QPR.

Jota returned from an extended loan spell in Spain __with a refreshed appetite for Championship football, as evidenced by his haul of five goals and two assists in February.

Fulham climbed to seventh under Slavisa Jokanovic
Fulham climbed to seventh under Slavisa Jokanovic

McGeady scored three fine individual goals - two against Brentford - and contributed four assists, and Zohore bagged five goals in five games, finishing with power against Fulham and a delicious lob against Rotherham.

The winners of both awards will be announced on Friday, March 10.