Monthly awards - Yorkshire trio in line

Hull City manager Bruce is among four nominees for the manager-of-the-month gong and is competing against Burnley counterpart Sean Dyche - whose Clarets side welcome the Tigers on Saturday in a crunch fixture at the top of the table - Birmingham chief Gary Rowett and Nottingham Forest’s Dougie Freedman.

Bruce presided over a perfect January, when Hull won all of their four Championship fixtures and have reclaimed top spot in the table, while also winning both their FA Cup ties.

Hull triumphed 2-1 at QPR on New Year’s Day and then scored a combined eight goals en route to two home victories over Cardiff and Charlton before winning 1-0 at Fulham, with the East Yorkshiremen having conceded just one league goal this month.

Bruce has previously picked up the award twice, with Hull in December 2012 and Birmingham in December 2006.

Bruce’s former club Blues went five league matches unbeaten in January, winning three, including an excellent 3-0 away success at Derby while Burnley also enjoyed a strong January, going unbeaten and recording impressive road wins at MK Dons (5-0) and Brentford (3-1).

Forest also had an excellent January, showcased by an eye-catching 1-0 win at former leaders Middlesbrough.

Tigers striker Hernandez has been shortlisted for the player of the month accolade and is battling it out with Sheffield Wednesday marksman Hooper, Birmingham midfield enforcer Maikei Kieftenbeld and Burnley’s Ben Mee.

Hernadez plundered six league goals last month in just four games, including a hat-trick in the thumping 6-0 home drubbing of Charlton on January 16.

Hooper, who sealed a permanent move to Hillsborough from Norwich last month, enjoyed a bountiful January, hitting five goals in four league appearances.

The winners will be announced on Friday, with Barnsley boss Lee Johnson and stirker Sam Winnall among nominees for the January manager and player of the month accolades for League One.