AITOR KARANKA thinks Middlesbrough’s double nomination for Sky Bet Championship awards highlights the progress that his team has made since the turn of the year.

Boro picked up ten points from a possible 12 during January to put them right in the mix for a top two spot and that has put Karanka in line for the manager of the month prize when it is announced tomorrow.

The Spaniard is up against Derby’s Steve McClaren, Brentford’s Mark Warburton and Leeds’ Neil Redfearn and boasts the best record out of all of those since the turn of the year.

Attacking midfielder Lee Tomlin is also up for the player of the month prize for his three goals in four league appearances. He also turned in a brilliant display against Manchester City in the FA Cup.

Tomlin is competing with Watford striker Odion Ighalo, Leeds’ Luke Murphy and Wolves defender Richard Stearman for the award.

Karanka said: “I think it is reflection of our great month. The main thing is it is not just me that has been recognised - because I have been nominated another two times - but to be nominated with a player from my squad is good.

“It's a very good thing for the squad and means we are doing things properly. The main thing is we are in the position in the table that we are. We are showing everybody that we are a very consistent squad. The awards are for individuals but they are a very good thing for the club.”

Middlesbrough face Charlton at the Riverside Stadium on Saturday looking to claim a further win which could take them to the top of the Championship. Karanka has revealed he has no fresh injury problems and that defender Tomas Kalas is fit again after missing the last two matches.

Karanka said: “Sometimes these kinds of challenges are the most difficult because you can go in to the game thinking it is going to be an easy game. We have been analysing Charlton and they are an organised team. If we go to the pitch thinking it will be an easy game it will be a big mistake.”

Tomlin has caught the attention this week for a cheeky tweet to Manchester City’s Vincent Kompany – and the champions’ captain has seen the funny side.

The Boro forward has had almost 30,000 retweets for stating: “My washing machine was making loads of noise, I opened it and Kompany crawled out. I must have left him in my back pocket #banter.’”

Kompany has been asked about it. He said: “It’s a brilliant tweet. I’m not annoyed at all. If you go through my Twitter line, you get the odd United fan that says a lot more horrible things than that so this is fine.”