Barnsley midfielder Conor Hourihane has been named the Sky Bet Championship Player of the Month for August.

The Irishman’s energy and awareness played a starring role in Barnsley’s return to the Sky Bet Championship.He scored two goals, including a spectacular free-kick in the 3-2 win over QPR, while his pin-point passing helped to create three others.Barnsley manager Paul Heckingbottom said: “Although he’s stepped up a league, Conor’s performances have continued to improve and it shows the strides he’s making.“It’s fully deserved and hopefully now if he keeps this run of form going and reproduces it in the next month he’ll be pushing for an international call-up.”Hourihane said: “It’s fantastic to get recognition, especially at Championship level. We’ve all had a good start as a team and I hope we can keep it up.“It’s nice to receive an award like this and it just gives me more motivation to try and win another, but I would be just as happy if one of my teammates won one as well.”Sky Sports’ EFL pundit Don Goodman said: “Hourinhane was the catalyst to Barnsley’s remarkable turn of fortunes last season, and the Tykes’ captain has picked up where he left off with a string of impressive performances, proving that he has more than enough ability to operate at this level.“Hopefully this award will inspire him to even greater heights and prove a springboard to consistent performances that incorporate goals and assists in the season ahead.”Sky Bet Football Trading Manager Paul Lowery said: “After playing such a big part in Barnsley’s promotion push last season, Conor Hourihane has carried on where he left off and has played another key role in Barnsley's rise to third in the Championship table.“The Republic of Ireland midfielder has led from the front again and chipped in with two goals in five games this month.”The judging panel for the Sky Bet Player of the Month comprises Sky Sports’ EFL expert Don Goodman; EFL Communications Director Mark Rowan, League Managers’ Association Director Olaf Dixon and Sky Bet Football Trading Manager Paul Lowery.