GOOD partnerships have been vital for two of the North-East's high-flying clubs this season.

And that fact is reflected in this month's Northern Echo Sport Player of the Year ratings.

Hartlepool United's rock-solid central defensive pairing - Chris Westwood and Graeme Lee - are extending their lead at the top of our chart while the club does exactly the same in the Third Division.

Westwood - a former amateur boxer - has been outstanding for the first seven months of the season and he is heading the way.

The Dudley Destroyer is marginally better than teammate Lee who has been performing consistently for the past season and a half.

But Newcastle's deadly duo are also showing that dynamic double acts can have a major effect on the side's form as a whole.

The Magpies' first-choice strike force, Alan Shearer and Craig Bellamy, are both doing well as Sir Bobby Robson's men look increasingly like claiming a Champions League place for the second season on the trot.

Shearer is sitting pretty in third place on 7.09, while Bellamy is three places behind in sixth with 6.94.

The Newcastle skipper continues to prove he is the best English striker around - despite not getting any younger at 32.

Shearer may not be playing for England anymore but his 18 goals this season are further proof that the Tyneside legend will be a difficult man to replace when he does hang up his boots.

Reliable Gareth Southgate is also going strong.

The Boro captain never seems to do anything wrong and it is no surprise to see him so high up in our table.

Midfielder Neil Maddison is the only Darlington man to be represented in the top ten.

The former Boro and Southampton man may not have played as much as he would have liked this season - and revealed on Saturday that he will be leaving Feethams in the summer - but when he has played our match ratings show he has been in good form.

Newcastle's Gary Speed, Pool's Ritchie Humphreys and Boro's Geremi are all up there.

But relegation-threatened Sunderland's only representative is a man who can't even get his game now - third choice keeper Jurgen Macho.

The Austrian came in and done a tremendous job for Howard Wilkinson when the Black Cats had a keeper crisis on their hands.

But the return from injury of No 1 Thomas Sorensen, a target of champions Arsenal, has meant Macho has dropped down the pecking order once again.

Don't worry, though, Jurgen, The Northern Echo appreciated what you did and that's why you're in the top ten!