Preston North End striker Sean Maguire nominated for Championship player player of the month award

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The Irish striker is on a four-man shortlist for the March prize, with the winner announced on Friday.

Maguire returned from a four-month absence for the Gentry Day clash with Bolton on March 3.

He came off the bench at the Macron Stadium to score twice in the second half as PNE won 3-1.

In the next game against Bristol City, the 23-year-old was a super-sub again as he netted North End’s winner.

Maguire then netted in the 2-1 home defeat to Fulham and the 2-0 win at Sunderland.

Nominating the Preston striker, award sponsors Sky Bet said: “A stunning return after four months out with a serious hamstring injury.

“The Irishman’s first five games back – two of them as a substitute – brought him five goals and shows that he has lost none of his positional or predatory instincts.”

Maguire’s competition for the award comes in the shape of Fulham striker Aleksandar Mitrovic, Middlesbrough’s Patrick Bamford and Shaun Hutchinson of Millwall.

Mitrovic scored five goals in March, two of them in the Cottagers’ win at Deepdale.

Boro front man Bamford found his form with six goals in five games and defender Hutchinson has played a big part in Millwall’s rise up the table into play-off contention.

Maguire’s form has dipped a little since the international break, in line with that of his North End team-mates.

He will be looking to get back on the goalscoring trail when the Lilywhites make the trip to Reading on Saturday.

The Madejski Stadium clash is a vital one as PNE look to put the Easter defeats to Sheffield Wednesday and Derby behind them.