BLACKBURN Rovers top-scorer Jordan Rhodes has been named the Sky Bet Championship Player of the Month.

Rhodes beat Middlesbrough centre-back Daniel Ayala, Huddersfield Town midfielder Emyr Huws and Reading’s former Rovers striker Nick Blackman to the prize after scoring five goals in four games during September.

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It is the first time that the recalled Scotland international, who has more scored more goals than any other player in the Championship in the past three seasons, has won the award.

And his delighted Rovers boss Gary Bowyer said: “He’s had a fantastic month and this award is richly deserved.

“The team is playing well and creating chances and there is nobody better to get on the end of them.

“His goals return is phenomenal, but it doesn’t come as a surprise, because the amount of work that he does on his finishing out on the training pitch is outstanding.

“He’s reaping the rewards for all the hard work that he does and this has also been recognised with his recall to the Scotland squad.

“Not just his goals, but his all-round play has been particularly pleasing. He’s a quality finisher and he’s proved that this month, but he’s far from finished and long may that continue for us.”

Sky Sports’ Football League pundit Don Goodman added: “Rhodes has been an outstanding goalscorer and player for many seasons now and as he enters his prime, Blackburn have done well to hold on to him until now.

“Natural goalscorers like Rhodes are not easy to come across and the only surprise is that this is the first time he has won the award.”

Rhodes continued his hot streak on Saturday with a brace of goals in Rovers’ 2-0 win at home to Ipswich Town.

That took his tally for the term up to seven and moved him level at the top of the Championship scoring charts with Nick Blackman and Charlie Austin.

Rhodes is now the 6-1 favourite to finish as the league’s leading marksman.

Middlesbrough’s Aitor Karanka, meanwhile, has been named the Sky Bet Championship Manager of the Month.

He beat Reading’s Steve Clarke, Derby County’s Paul Clement and Brighton & Hove Albion’s Chris Hughton to the prize.