A highly exciting opening month of the new npower Championship season has come to a close with the announcement of the nominees for the season's first Player of the Month award.

Nominee                            Club

Kasper Schmeichel         Leeds United
Jay Bothroyd                     Cardiff City
Adel Taarabt                     Queens Park Rangers
Paul Robinson                 Millwall

Leeds United goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel is the first player nominated for some outstanding performances throughout the opening month's fixtures. With some marvellous stops and strong distribution he has been the stand out keeper of the division.

Striker Jay Bothroyd has been on fine form for Cardiff City, his goals firing the Bluebirds to an unbeaten start to the season. The Welsh side have been in strong goalscoring form with Bothroyd at the forefront scoring four goals in four appearances.

The impressive form of early Championship pace setters Queens Park Rangers has seen lively winger Adel Taarabt nominated. He looks to be a shrewd purchase by Neil Warnock after making last season's impressive loan spell into a permanent move and he has repaid the faith shown in him by his Manager by scoring two goals in four games.

Millwall may have been one of the surprise packages this season following promotion from League 1 and their impressive start to the season has been built on the foundations of a solid defence with Paul Robinson at the heart of this. The Club captain has picked up where he left off last season by turning in commanding performances throughout August managing to pick up a goal on the way.

The winner of the award will be announced on Thursday 9th September and presented with the new npower Player of the Month trophy.