CRAIG Bellamy is taking some shifting from top spot in the race to be The Northern Echo Player of the Year.

But whether the Welshman is still in the same lofty position by the end of March is another thing entirely.

Bellamy, whose rating has decreased slightly from 7.34 to 7.31, missed Saturday's Premiership clash with Arsenal after suffering a knee injury and he is not expected to return for a fortnight.

The 22 year-old's absence will give challengers to his first place every chance of making up the gap.

Middlesbrough's Gareth Southgate looks like being Bellamy's biggest threat.

Southgate's impressive form has been consistent all season and he will be keen to ensure that continues with the World Cup only a few months away.

The 31-year-old, who looks a certainty to be on the plane to South Korea and Japan, has been worth every penny of the £6m manager Steve McClaren spent in the summer.

And Southgate, in second place, has an average of 7.23, which is again slightly down on his February score of 7.27.

But, as all Boro fans will know, the former Aston Villa man could quite easily make up the difference between him and Bellamy.

The centre-back has only had one six in his match ratings this season - the 3-0 defeat at Newcastle on Boxing Day - the rest of the time he has had 7s, 8s and 9s.

And if the England defender can maintain that sort of form between now and the end of the season then there is every chance he could take over control at the top of The Northern Echo's chart.

That's the top two. The next three players all ply their trade in the Third Division.

Hartlepool United's Mark Tinkler has been outstanding over the past month and he has climbed from fifth to third - marginally short of Southgate.

Fourth is Tinkler's teammate Gordon Watson. The striker has been leapfrogged by the Pool midfielder during Watson's time on the sidelines with a knee injury.

But the experienced forward returned to Chris Turner's squad for the trip to Kidderminster yesterday, so a charge back up the table could be on the cards.

In fifth it is Darlington's Craig Liddle whose average of 7.13 is tremendous when considering he has missed so many matches through injury this season - he remains the only Quakers player in the top ten after Andy Collett's fall from grace last month.

Two of Newcastle's in-form squad, Shay Given and Alan Shearer, then occupy sixth and seventh. Given, whose saves at the Stadium of Light last Sunday ensured the three points went to Tyneside, has been regarded as one of the best keepers in the country this season