North-East Team of the Year 2022: The region's best players this year

GOALKEEPER

NICK POPE (NEWCASTLE)

Newcastle United goalkeeper Nick Pope (Image: PA)

He only joined Newcastle in the summer, but Pope has rapidly established himself as one of the leading goalkeepers in the Premier League thanks to the quality of his performances on Tyneside. His superb shot-stopping has been one of the key factors in the Magpies surging into the Champions League places - the pick of his performances came in a goalless draw at Brighton on the second weekend of the season - with his displays deservedly earning him a place in England’s World Cup squad.

DEFENDERS

KIERAN TRIPPIER (NEWCASTLE)

Newcastle United right-back Kieran Trippier (Image: PA)

It is hard to think of a more transformative signing that Trippier’s move to Tyneside from Atletico Madrid in January. On the pitch, the full-back’s marauding runs down the right-hand side have greatly enhanced Newcastle’s attacking play, with his threat from set-pieces also having helped secure cult status amongst the club’s fans. It is a long time since any North-East side has had a better deliverer of a corner or free-kick. Off the field, his impact has been even more pronounced, with his leadership and standard-setting making him a talismanic figure for the new-look Newcastle.

DAEL FRY (MIDDLESBROUGH)

Middlesbrough centre-half Dael Fry (Image: PA)

It hasn’t always been an easy 12 months for Fry, whose form dipped as Middlesbrough nosedived in the latter stages of the Chris Wilder era, but the fact he has come back better than ever speaks volumes for his levels of professionalism and resolve. Briefly dropped to accommodate Darragh Lenihan at the start of the season, Fry now forms a rock-solid central-defensive partnership with the Blackburn man, and looks much happier back in a flat back four. Michael Carrick thinks the world of him, and he is set to play a key role in Boro’s promotion push under their new boss.

SVEN BOTMAN (NEWCASTLE)

Newcastle United centre-half Sven Botman (Image: PA)

Another of Newcastle’s summer signings, and another player who has more than merited his price tag. Newcastle wanted to sign Botman in January, but were unable to prise the Dutchman from Lille. They stuck to their guns, eventually pushing a deal through in the summer, and since carving out a starting spot at centre-half, the 22-year-old has oozed class and composure. Fast, dominant in the air, comfortable in possession and an excellent reader of the game, Botman boasts everything you could want in a central defender. He is set to be a key part of the Magpies side for years to come.

RYAN GILES (MIDDLESBROUGH)

Middlesbrough left-back Ryan Giles (Image: Andrew Varley)

Boro pulled off a considerable coup when they signed Giles on a season-long loan from Wolves in the summer, with his performances in the first half of the campaign marking him out as arguably the best attacking full-back in the Championship. The 22-year-old started the season playing at wing-back, a position he excels in, but his form has not dipped since he switched to a more orthodox left-back role within a back four. There are few better crossers of a ball outside of the Premier League, and he is currently joint-second in the Championship assists table with five from his 23 games.

MIDFIELDERS

ISAIAH JONES (MIDDLESBROUGH)

Middlesbrough right winger Isaiah Jones (Image: Tom Banks)

Is he a midfielder or a defender? Either way, Jones is a crucial part of Boro’s first-choice line-up, with his drive and energy down the right flank a key part of the Teessiders’ attacking play. The 23-year-old spent the second half of last season playing at right wing-back, with the quality of his performances persuading Wilder to sanction the sale of Djed Spence in the summer. Jones has been moved to right wing under Carrick, and while opponents now ensure he is a marked man, he has still weighed in with three goals and three assists this term.

BRUNO GUIMARAES (NEWCASTLE)

Newcastle United midfielder Bruno Guimaraes

We don’t talk about Bruno? Well, we certainly have been over the course of the last 12 months. Newcastle’s brilliant Brazilian has been one of the break-out stars of the Premier League since joining the Magpies from Lyon, with his technical ability, vision and willingness to take the ball no matter how many defenders are around him marking him out as a truly special talent. He had a purple patch in the final weeks of last season, scoring four goals in the space of six games, and has carried his form into the current campaign, claiming three goals and two assists.

ALEX PRITCHARD (SUNDERLAND)

Sunderland midfielder Alex Pritchard (Image: PA)

Sunderland boast a number of talented attacking midfielders – Jack Clarke, Patrick Roberts and Amad Diallo have all made their mark at various stages this year – but Pritchard stands out as the man who really makes the Black Cats’ midfield tick. He was the Man of the Match in the play-off final win at Wembley, capping off a fine promotion campaign that saw him finish with four league goals, and he has taken the step back up to the Championship in his stride, even though he has been forced to spend some of his time playing as a makeshift centre-forward.

FORWARDS

MIGUEL ALMIRON (NEWCASTLE)

Newcastle United forward Miguel Almiron (Image: PA)

For much of the year, Almiron played as he has for the majority of his Newcastle career – neat, tidy and hugely energetic, but perhaps lacking a bit of an end product. This autumn, however, something changed, and the Paraguayan embarked on by far the most effective spell of his time as a Premier League player. After scoring two goals in October’s 4-1 win at Fulham – one of which will surely be a contender for Goal of the Season – Almiron went on to claim a remarkable seven goals in the space of seven games, a run that helped send the Magpies soaring up the table.

ROSS STEWART (SUNDERLAND)

Sunderland striker Ross Stewart (Image: Ian Horrocks)

Stewart was the stand-out striker in League One last season, scoring 26 goals in all competitions as Sunderland finally won promotion, and there is a good chance he would have established himself as one of the leading forwards in the Championship had he not suffered a thigh injury in September that sidelined him for three months. Even so, his comeback goal at Hull last weekend means he has scored six goals in eight league appearances this season, and holding on to him next month could prove to be Sunderland’s biggest challenge of the campaign.

JACK LAMBERT (DARLINGTON)

Darlington forward Jack Lambert (Image: Steve Halliday)

Signed from Hebburn last September, Lambert has emerged as Darlington’s attacking spearhead as the Quakers have thrust themselves into promotion contention in National League North. He was impressive enough last season, finishing the campaign with eight goals, but it is the current campaign that has seen him really kick on, with his pace, movement and finishing ability proving too much for a host of opposition defences. He has scored 13 goals from 26 starts this term, with his partnership with Mark Beck a key part of Darlington’s arsenal.

SUBSTITUTES:

Anthony Patterson (Sunderland), Fabian Schar (Newcastle), Danny Batth (Sunderland), Joelinton (Newcastle), Jack Clarke (Sunderland), Mark Beck (Darlington), Luke Molyneux (Hartlepool).