Cardiff's Whittingham nominated for Championship player award

Cardiff City's Peter Whittingham has joined Southampton pair Rickie Lambert and Adam Lallana on the shortlist for the Championship Player of the Year.

Whittingham has scored nine goals and made 11 assists in the Championship this term and the midfielder has helped Cardiff into the play-off zone.

Championship top-scorer Lambert's 16 goals have fired Southampton into the automatic promotion places.

Midfielder Lallana has also impressed in Saints' first year in the division.

Whittingham has been moved from the left wing by new Bluebirds boss Malky Mackay and the former England under-21 international has impressed in a central midfield role.

The 27-year-old has also been instrumental in their Carling Cup heroics as Cardiff will play Liverpool in Sunday's Wembley final.

Whittingham, Lambert and Lallana, who have both inspired Southampton to second in the table, were nominated for the Championship award by Football League club managers.

The winner will be announced at the Football League awards gala dinner in London on Sunday, 11 March.

Football League Awards nominations

Championship player of the year - Peter Whittingham (Cardiff), Rickie Lambert (Southampton), Adam Lallana (Southampton)

League One player of the year - Johnnie Jackson (Charlton), Jordan Rhodes (Huddersfield), Ched Evans (Sheffield United)

League Two player of the year - Marlon Pack (Cheltenham), Tyrone Barnett (Crawley, now on loan at Peterborough), Matt Ritchie (Swindon)

Football League young player of the year - Matt Phillips (Blackpool), Lewis Dunk (Brighton), Wilfried Zaha (Crystal Palace)

Outstanding Managerial Achievement - Gus Poyet (Brighton), Dougie Freedman (Crystal Palace), Lee Clark (Huddersfield)

Fan of the year - Paddy Cronesberry (Middlesbrough), Sue Pollard (Plymouth), Lynn Noon (Preston)

Goal of the year - Peter Whittingham (Cardiff), Darren Ambrose (Crystal Palace), Peter Leven (Oxford), Kari Arnason (Plymouth), Paul Coutts (Preston)

Community club of the year - Bury, Milton Keynes Dons, Notts County, Portsmouth, Rotherham

Family club of the year - Cardiff, Dagenham & Redbridge, Huddersfield, Portsmouth, Swindon, Tranmere

Best marketing campaign - Burnley, Cardiff, Hartlepool, Huddersfield, Hull, Walsall

Player in the community - Joel Ward (Portsmouth), Noel Hunt (Reading), Tamika Mkandawire (Millwall)

Unsung hero - Norman Rimmington (Barnsley), Paul Bradley (Preston), Warwick Rimmer (Tranmere)

Best matchday programme - Brighton, Burnley, Huddersfield, Notts County, Swindon, Torquay

Championship apprentice of the year - Gael Bigirimana (Coventry), Jonathan Williams (Crystal Palace), Jordan Obita (Reading)

League One apprentice of the year - Doyle Middleton (Preston), Jordan Cousins (Charlton), Matt Crooks (Huddersfield)

League Two apprentice of the year - Daniel Banister (Northampton), Miles Storey (Swindon), Nick Powell (Crewe)