Daniel Sturridge, Sam Allardyce win monthly awards

Liverpool striker Daniel Sturridge and West Ham United manager Sam Allardyce have been rewarded for their efforts in February by being handed the Premier League Player and Manager of the Month awards.

Sturridge spent a month on the sidelines at the turn of the year but the England international has returned in superb form, with his five goals in February helping Liverpool to challenge at the top of the Premier League table.

It is the second time that Sturridge has won the accolade during the current campaign after being given the honour for August.

West Ham boss Allardyce had reportedly been close to losing his job at Upton Park, but he responded in February with four successive wins to help the Hammers up to 10th position in the standings.