Wayne Rooney has been named on the PFA Fans' Player of the Month shortlist for January
Sky Sports can now reveal the contenders for the PFA Fans' Player of the Month Awards for January.
The shortlist includes Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney, whose four goals helped Louis van Gaal's side to seven points during the month.
He is joined by Manchester City forward Sergio Aguero, Tottenham striker Harry Kane, Chelsea's Diego Costa and Liverpool's Roberto Firmino as they all look to follow last month's winner Mesut Ozil in picking up the top-flight PFA Fans' player of the month award.
Roberto Firmino hit form for Liverpool in January
The competition is just as stiff in the Sky Bet Football League, with Abel Hernandez*(Hull City), Lee Gregory*(Millwall) and Ricky Holmes (Northampton) all featuring in the shortlists compiled by the expert panel of judges as they look to follow December winners*Sam Byram, the former Leeds star,*Tom Aldred*(Blackpool) and Gareth Evans*(Portsmouth), who is included in the League Two shortlist again for his fine form.
Every month, throughout the English football season, fans have the opportunity to vote on skysports.com for who they think has been the best player in the Barclays Premier League, Sky Bet Championship, Sky Bet League One and Sky Bet League Two, after Sky Sports teamed up with the PFA to be the digital platform for the Awards.
[h=3]Vote now![/h]Pick your PFA Fans' Players of the Month
Before the vote opens each month, an expert panel produces a shortlist of contenders. Fans are then able to vote for the player they think deserves the award.
One voting fan in each division, who is a resident in the UK or Ireland, will win the chance (subject to terms and conditions) to meet and present the award to each PFA Fans' Player of the Month. And that's not all - one of the winners will join the experts on the following month's shortlisting panel.
Paul Merson is part of the expert panel
The panel includes Sky Sports football pundits Paul Merson, Ian Holloway and Peter Beagrie. The trio are joined by Mike Riley, general manager of the Professional Game Match Officials, and Malcolm Clarke, chairman of the Football Supporters Federation, as well as the winning fan from each month.
The shortlists for the January awards have been announced and the following players are in contention:
Premier League
Ashley Williams (Swansea City)
Benik Afobe (Bournemouth)
Diego Costa (Chelsea)
Diego Costa scored three Premier League goals in January
Georginio Wijnaldum (Newcastle United)
Harry Kane (Tottenham Hotspur)
Jermain Defoe (Sunderland)
Jonny Evans (West Bromwich Albion)
Roberto Firmino (Liverpool)
Robert Huth (Leicester City)
Sergio Aguero (Manchester City)
Sergio Aguero has been a key figure for Manchester City in January
Patrick van Aanholt (Sunderland)
Wayne Rooney (Manchester United)
Championship
Abel Hernandez (Hull City)
Bobby Zamora (Brighton and Hove Albion)
Craig Noone (Cardiff City)
Curtis Davies (Hull City)
Gary Hooper (Sheffield Wednesday)
Gary Hooper (left) has scored five goals in his last three league matches
Harry Bunn (Huddersfield Town)
Jamie Ward (Nottingham Forest)
Joey Barton (Burnley)
Luke Chambers (Ipswich Town)
Maikel Kieftenbeld (Birmingham City)
Michal Zyro (Wolves)
Ross McCormack (Fulham)
League One
Adam Armstrong (Coventry City)
Ajay Leitch-Smith (Port Vale)
Billy Sharp (Sheffield United)
Jonathan Obika (Swindon Town)
Lee Gregory (Millwall)
Lee Gregory has been in fine form for League One side Millwall
Max Power (Wigan Athletic)
Nicky Ajose (Swindon Town)
Rory Donelly (Gillingham)
Sam Winnall (Barnsley)
Stuart Beavon (Burton Albion)
Tom Bradshaw (Walsall)
Tyrone Barnett (Southend United)
League Two
Ashley Hemmings (Dagenham and Redbridge)
Bondz N'Gala (Barnet)
Gregg Wylde (Plymouth Argyle)
Jayden Stockley (Exeter City)
Jay Simpson (Leyton Orient)
John-Joe O'Toole (Northampton Town)
Jonathan Meades (AFC Wimbledon)
Kemar Roofe (Oxford United)
Kemar Roofe's performances for Oxford have seen him named on the League Two shortlist
Ricky Holmes (Northampton)
Rory Gaffney (Bristol Rovers)
Shaun Miller (Morecambe)
Shay McCartan (Accrington Stanley)
After the final weekend of league action in December, an even shorter list of leading contenders will be announced, however voting will remain open until February 8.*
The winner will be announced on February 9.
Have your say NOW - vote at www.skysports.com/pfafanvote
To be eligible for the prize, voters must be 18 or over and be a*resident of UK or ROI.*Travel costs are not included as part of the prize. Click here to read the full terms and conditions.
[h=3]Vote now![/h]Pick your PFA Fans' Players of the Month
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