Middlesbrough's Lee Tomlin has been named the Sky Bet Championship Player of the Month for January.
Tomlin has been the creative spark behind Boro’s march towards automatic promotion so far this season with his incisive vision.His goalscoring instincts were also evident in two confident finishes against Huddersfield Town and Cardiff City.
Middlesbrough manager Aitor Karanka said: "I told Lee one year ago that he is a very good player. He's shown everyone what he is capable of. When he has the ball something can happen. He is an important player for us.
"We don't think of these as individual awards. The most important thing is the team and its for all the club and all our squad."
Sky Sports’ Football League pundit Don Goodman said: “Middlesbrough’s creative hub Tomlin has been vital in their ascent to the top of the Sky Bet Championship.
“Playing alongside Patrick Bamford and Kike, Tomlin added goals to his game in an impressive January.”
Sky Bet Football Trading Manager Paul Lowery said: “Lee Tomlin contributed three goals to the Middlesbrough cause during January in an unbeaten run that saw them move to joint second favourites for the title.
“He grabbed both goals in the 2-0 victory over Huddersfield, which could prove to be a very important victory as it came on a weekend when Derby dropped points.”
The judging panel for the Sky Bet Player of the Month comprises Sky Sports Football League expert Don Goodman; Football League Head of Communications John Nagle; League Managers Association Director Olaf Dixon and Sky Bet Football Trading Manager Paul Lowery.