Aston Villa's Steve Bruce and Scott Hogan nominated for monthly awards
Villa manager Steve Bruce and Blues counterpart Steve Cotterill have both been nominated for the Championship manager of the month award for January.
The two bosses are preparing to face-off in the dugout on Sunday when the rival clubs meet for the Second City Derby.
But they will first duel for the manager of the month prize after enjoying strong starts to the year.
Striker Scott Hogan has also been nominated for the player of the month prize, after helping Villa reel off four straight wins during January to climb within a point of the automatic promotion places.
The 25-year-old netted his first league goal of the season in the 5-0 New Year’s Day triumph over Bristol City. He was also on target in wins over Nottingham Forest and Barnsley, with Villa rounding off the month by beating Sheffield United.
Hogan is up against Fulham’s Ryan Sessegnon, Norwich City’s James Maddison and Middlesbrough centre-back Daniel Ayala for the player award.
Bruce and Cotterill contest the manager award with Norwich’s Daniel Farke and Fulham’s Slavisa Jokanovic. The winners of both prizes will be announced on Friday.
