Colchester United boss Joe Dunne has been nominated for the League One manager-of-the-month award for January.

However, Dunne is probably the outsider of the four managers nominated – the U’s only played three games during January, taking seven points out of nine via wins over Gillingham (3-0) and at Carlisle (4-2), and sharing a goalless draw at MK Dons on New Year’s Day.

The U’s have certainly picked up of late, and for that Dunne deserves great credit.

But his rivals for the award do boast better records.

The other contenders are Leyton Orient’s Russell Slade, Brentford’s Mark Warburton and Walsall’s Dean Smith.

Slade is perhaps the favourite, having masterminded a 100% record of four wins from four matches in January to sustain the O’s automatic promotion push.

New Bees boss Warburton, meanwhile, has propelled the West London club to the top of League One. In-form Brentford were unbeaten during January, taking 13 points from a possible 15.

Smith, meanwhile, has guided Walsall into the play-off race on the back of an unbeaten last month, which included an eye-catching 5-1 win at Notts County.

The winners will be announced tomorrow morning.