FORMER Colchester United favourite Sammie Szmodics has been shortlisted for the Championship Player of the Season award.

The 28-year-old has enjoyed a superb season for Blackburn Rovers and is in the running for the prestigious accolade, along with Leicester City midfielder Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and winger Crysencio Summerville, of Leeds United.

Szmodics, who recently clocked up his 300th career league appearance, took his tally to 23 league goals for the campaign and 29 in all competitions after scoring twice in Rovers' 5-1 win at Sunderland on Easter Monday.

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He is currently top scorer in the Championship, three goals clear of Southampton striker, Adam Armstrong.

The former Stanway School pupil earned his first two Republic of Ireland caps, last month.

The winner will be announced at the EFL Awards ceremony in London on Sunday, April 14.

Szmodics joined Blackburn from Peterborough United in August, 2022 and has now made 76 appearances for them in all competitions.

The former U's academy player scored a total of 40 times in 165 appearances for his home town club Colchester, between 2013 and 2019.

Szmodics twice finished as the U's top scorer during his time at the JobServe Community Stadium.

The ex-U's favourite ended his 16-year association with his home town club when he joined Championship side Bristol City, in the summer of 2019.