Bradley Johnson’s early season form has seen the Rovers midfielder shortlisted for the Sky Bet Championship player of the month award for September.

Johnson scored three times last month, helping Rovers to back-to-back wins over Wycombe and Derby, having also netted on the opening day against Bournemouth.

The 33-year-old matched his tally from last season in the first month of his second campaign at the club in which he has started all four matches.

All three of his strikes have come from outside the box, including a double against former side Derby County in a 4-0 away win, backing up his strike at Bournemouth.

Johnson has also had a hand in a further three goals, and his role infront of the back four gave Rovers the necessary protection that helped them to clean sheets in their big wins last months.

The judging panel said of Johnson: “The driving force behind Blackburn’s rampaging start to the season, scoring three goals all from outside the area and being involved in the moves that led to three more from a more advanced midfield role than he enjoyed last season.”

Adam Armstrong, a winner of this award in January 2019, isn’t shortlisted however, despite scoring five times in three matches.

In the running alongside Johnson is Craig Cathcart, the Watford defender who helped his side to three successive clean sheets last month, as well as netting the winner against Middlesbrough.

For two goals and one assist, Jamie Paterson of Bristol City is in the running, as is Millwall winger Jed Wallace who scored both of Millwall’s goals last month, including the winner against Rotherham.

The four Championship bosses battling it out for the managerial prize are Steve Cooper (Swansea City), Dean Holden (Bristol City), Veljko Paunovic (Reading) and Jason Tindall (Bournemouth).

The winners will be announced on Friday morning.