Gillingham manager Neil Harris and striker Tom Nichols are both up for a monthly award.

The official EFL League 2 manager and player-of-the-month award nominations have been announced and both Harris and Nichols are in the running.

January started with a 1-0 defeat against high-flying Stevenage but since then the club have made 10 signings and won three of their last four games, drawing the other against Swindon Town.

For a team that scored just seven goals in the first 23 games, they have now netted eight in four - with Nichols scoring three of them.

Former Crawley striker Nichols - rated too short and too old by his old club - has started his time with the Gills in great fashion. He scored in each of his first three games - twice with his head - and all three from Alex MacDonald set-pieces.

It was his shot, parried by Crawley keeper Corey Addai, that led to the winner against his former team at Priestfield on Saturday, slotted home by Shaun Williams. He's also supplied assists for Dom Jefferies and Timothee Dieng.

Gillingham have gone from rock bottom in League 2 and six points off safety to now sitting inside the drop zone by a mere point. Only a last-gasp winner from their rivals Hartlepool United prevented them from escaping the relegation zone on Saturday.

On the nominations, the EFL described Nichols as “League Two’s signing of the transfer window,” having watched the striker score three in his first three appearances for the Gills.

They added: “(He scored three goals) using his intelligence and elusive running to escape his marker and convert three Alex MacDonald set-pieces.”

On Harris’ nomination, the EFL noted: “Harris’ side went into the month having not scored more than once in a game all season.

"Fortified by outstanding transfer window recruitment, they managed it three times in January alone, collecting seven points from four games.”

Former boss Steve Evans is also in the running as they maintain their promotion push. They beat title rivals Leyton Orient 3-0 last month while making national headlines by seeing off Aston Villa in the FA Cup.

Carlisle United’s Paul Simpson and Colchester United’s Matt Bloomfield are also nominated for the manager award.

Battling Nichols for the League 2 player award are Carlisle’s Kristian Dennis - with five goals and two assists - Salford’s Conor McAleny - netting six times in the month - and Stevenage’s towering defender Carl Piergianni - who headed in a winner against the Gills.

The judging panel for the Sky Bet player-of-the-month comprises Sky Sports’ EFL expert Don Goodman, EFL chief executive Trevor Birch and Sky Bet EFL trader Ivor Davies.

Former Barnsley boss Danny Wilson assists Goodman and Davies to select the manager award. Winners are announced on Friday.