Colchester United head coach John McGreal says he is 'proud' to have been shortlisted for the Sky Bet League Two manager of the month award for December - but insists the recognition is all down to his players and coaching team.

McGreal, along with Lincoln City boss Danny Cowley, Neil Aspin of Port Vale and Luton Town manager Nathan Jones, have all been nominated for the accolade.

Colchester were unbeaten in five matches last month, taking 11 points in the process to boost their ongoing promotion hopes, with leading scorer Sammie Szmodics also nominated for the Sky Bet League Two Player of the Month award.

McGreal said: “It’s another proud moment and it’s reward for all of the hard work that we do put in behind the scenes and we try and implement on a Saturday.

“Big credit must go to (assistant manager) Steve Ball as well, who I speak to more often than the wife at this moment in time!

“It’s 25 hours a day, eight days a week and we’re living in each other’s pockets, alongside the likes of Rene Gilmartin.

“It’s good for them as a collective, not just myself and it’s all down to the players, to get us into this position and to have the run that we’ve had, to put us in and around the play-offs.

“It’s credit all round and it’s great publicity for the club, with the nominations for not only myself but also Sammie Szmodics.

“It just keeps putting us on the map, which is what we want to do."

The winners of the EFL's monthly awards will be announced tomorrow morning.

The judging panel consists of former Ipswich Town manager George Burley, Sky Sports’ EFL League expert Don Goodman, EFL Marketing Director Drew Barrand, League Managers’ Association Director Olaf Dixon and Sky Bet EFL Trader Mikey Mumford.