Rotherham United's Richard Wood nominated for Player of the Month prize

RICHARD Wood has been rewarded for his superb start to the season by being shortlisted for the Sky Bet Player of the Month award for August.

The Rotherham United captain and centre-half target hit the target three times in the opening month of the Championship campaign and was a key defensive figure in a team boasting one of the best defensive records in the division.

He faces competition from Hull City frontman Oscar Estupinan, a scorer of seven goals in six matches, Sunderland centre-foreward Ross Stewart (five in six plus three assists) and central defender Liam Lindsay, a central defender in the Preston North End side that recorded shut-outs in all six of their outings.

The skipper's citation reads: "Three goals in four starts and a late substitute appearance would be a fine return for a striker.

"Throw in the three clean sheets Wood helped to keep in his day job as a defender, plus the fact he is 37, and what he has done becomes outstanding."

The decision of a voting panel that includes Sky Sports TV pundit Don Goodman and EFL chief executive Trevor Birch will be announced tomorrow morning.