Middlesbrough forward Lee Tomlin named January Championship Player of the Month

In-form Lee Tomlin has been announced as the Championship Player of the Month after his Middlesbrough performances in January.

Not always in the starting lineup during the first half of the season, forward Tomlin has been key to Boro's recent march into the automatic promotion race.

Last month he scored twice, against Huddersfield Town and Cardiff City, as well as causing opposition defences plenty of problems.

The other nominees for the award were Watford striker Odion Ighalo, Luke Murphy of Leeds United and Wolverhampton Wanderers' Richard Stearman.

Boro complete a January double as boss Aitor Karanka picked up the manager's award.