Canaries pair in the frame after a month to remember

Alex Neil - the former City boss now doing well at Preston. Picture: PA (Image: PA Wire/PA Images)

And in a welcome double for the Canaries, James Maddison – scorer of that magnificent free-kick at Reading on Saturday – has been nominated for the player of the month award.

Farke has guided the Canaries from a place in the relegation zone to ninth in the table and overseen a club record five clean sheets in a row.

The last City boss to win it was Alex Neil – who took the award last September – and is also in the running this time around.

Maddison’s place was perhaps rubber-stamped by his magnificent free-kick at Reading last weekend and if he wins it will end a long wait – City’s last Championship player of the month was Simeon Jackson, who won the award way back in April, 2011.

Bristol City manager Lee Johnson in full voice at Carrow Road recently. Picture: Paul Chesterton/Focus Images (Image: ©Focus Images Limitedwww.focus-images.co.uk+447814 482222)

Manager nominations:

Steve Bruce (Aston Villa): Guided Villa to four wins and two draws from six games with an emphatic 10-1 goal differential.

Daniel Farke (Norwich City): Stung by the 4-0 loss at Millwall in late August, he placed the emphasis on defensive shape during the last international break. The result was just one goal conceded in six September games and 14 points gained.

Lee Johnson (Bristol City): His side took over as leading scorers in the Championship with 13 goals in six unbeaten games which yielded 14 points. Even more impressive was that their September fixture list included visits to Reading, Wolves, Norwich and Ipswich.

Daniel Farke has turned it around at Carrow Road. Picture: Paul Chesterton/Focus Images (Image: ©Focus Images Limitedwww.focus-images.co.uk+447814 482222)

Alex Neil (Preston): Unbeaten in six unbeaten, collecting 12 points, to lead North End into the play-off positions.

Judging panel: former Ipswich manager George Burley, Sky Sports’ EFL League expert Don Goodman; EFL Marketing Director Drew Barrand, League Managers’ Association Director Olaf Dixon and Sky Bet EFL Trader Mikey Mumford.

Player nominations: Aden Flint Bristol City central defender; Sam Johnstone Aston Villa goalkeeper; Wolves midfielder Diogo Jota and Canaries young talent, James Maddison.

The judging panel is Sky Sports’ EFL expert Don Goodman; League Managers’ Association Director Olaf Dixon and Sky Bet EFL Trader Mikey Mumford.

James Maddison - up for the player of the month award. Picture: Paul Chesterton/Focus Images Ltd (Image: ©Focus Images Limitedwww.focus-images.co.uk+447814 482222)