Leicester City striker Paul Gallagher wins top award

Paul Gallagher has won the Coca-Cola Championship Player of the Month award for February.

And manager Nigel Pearson could complete a double for Leicester City by being named Manager of the Month this afternoon.

Gallagher has beaten Newcastle United striker Andy Carroll, Reading's Simon Church and Swansea City goalkeeper Darius De Vries to the coveted award after scoring four goals in the last two City home games, a hat-trick against Scunthorpe United and a brilliant free-kick against Nottingham Forest.

Pearson is the overwhelming favourite to claim the managers' award after City went seven games unbeaten in February.

City picked up 15 points, scored 13 goals, conceded just four and kept three clean sheets last month, and as a result Pearson is expected to pip Coventry City's Chris Coleman, Swansea City's Paulo Sousa and Reading's Brian McDermott to the award, which will be announced on Sky Sports today.

Man-in-form Gallagher has filled the void left by injured top scorer Matty Fryatt and hopes the award can kick-start his international career under new Scotland manager Craig Levein.

"I'm chuffed to get the award and it was a good month for the team," he said.

"I thought we were going to struggle without Matty, but we've scored eight goals in the past two home games and we showed in February that we'll give anyone a game.

"I won a PFA Fans' player award at Plymouth last season, but this is a bigger deal."

In addition, the first goal of Gallagher's hat-trick against Scunthorpe has been named City's goal of the month for February.

The strike, in the 5-1 demolition at the Walkers Stadium, received the most votes from City supporters in the online poll via the website of sponsors Lumbers.

He now joins this season's previous winners Dany N'Guessan, Steve Howard, Andy King, Martyn Waghorn, Matty Fryatt and Bruno Berner in the running City goal of the season award.

Gallagher has nailed down a regular spot in the City line-up after an uncertain start and says he is benefiting from the 4-3-3 formation adapted to cope with the absence of 12-goal Fryatt, ruled out until the end of April with a broken jaw.

Gallagher said: "I'd like to think I'm now established in the team.

"We had a good month. We have to keep it going for the rest of the matches and we might even take second spot, perhaps we'll be the team that comes out of the pack and nicks it."

Gallagher has been capped once by his country as a substitute during the 4-0 defeat to Wales at the Millennium Stadium in February 2004.

And Gallagher hopes new Scotland manager Craig Levein, who managed City between October 2004 and January 2006, will have him in mind for a call-up.

Levein launched his international campaign with a 1-0 win over the Czech Republic and has recalled striker Kris Boyd, who refused to play under former boss George Burley

Gallagher added: "He got off to a good start and he has a good mix of youth and experience, and he wants to keep that group together.

"Hopefully, he will add a couple for the European qualifiers, I just hope with the way I'm playing that they have a look at me. I'm scoring goals and this award might help."

Blackburn midfielder Steven Reid has joined Championship title hopefuls West Brom on a month's loan.

Reid, who turns 29 on Wednesday, has spent much of the season on the fringes at Ewood Park but he goes straight into the Baggies squad which travels to QPR today.