Johnson and Pellegrini win January's Player and Manager of the month awards

Adam Johnson wins the Player of the Month

England World Cup squad hopeful Adam Johnson, who had a sensational January has been named the player of the month.

The winger has been instrumental in The Black Cats’ rise from the relegation zone.

After a defeat at the hands of Aston Villa, the English winger scored a hat-trick in the 4-1 rout over Fulham at Craven Cottage. Johnson also struck in the 2-2 draw with Southampton and was the lone scorer in the match against Stoke City, as Sunderland continue to climb away from the relegation zone.

Manuel Pellegrini wins consecutive Manager of the Month

Meanwhile in Manchester, Manuel Pellegrini the manager of Manchester City has been named the Manager of the Month for the second consecutive time.

Pellegrini becomes the first manager to win the award back-to-back since Carlo Ancelotti won it in 2011.

Under the Chilean, City won four consecutive matches in January. The blue half of Manchester defeated Cardiff City, Newcastle United and Swansea City, before humiliating Spurs 5-1 at White Hart Lane. and had extended their run to eight consecutive victories in the Premier League, a run which was halted only last weekend by Chelsea.