For Sunderland and Newcastle, it has been a successful campaign. For Middlesbrough and Hartlepool, it has been a disappointment; for Darlington, it has been a disaster. As the end draws near, it’s time to select the North-East team of the season.

GOALKEEPER

Craig Gordon (Sunderland)

For much of his Sunderland career, Gordon has failed to live up to his billing as the most expensive goalkeeper in British football. This season, though, the Scotland international has come into his own.

His campaign was disrupted by a broken arm at Tottenham, but since returning in late January, Gordon has produced a string of superb saves to earn his side a series of valuable points.

He was the man-of-the-match in March matches against Manchester City and Aston Villa, and has firmly cemented his position as Sunderland’s number one.

RIGHT BACK

Neil Austin (Hartlepool)

Eyebrows were raised when Austin swapped Darlington for Hartlepool last summer, having appeared in last season’s PFA League Two team of the year.

The full-back was brought in to solidify the Pools defence, and has developed into one of the few success stories in a difficult season at Victoria Park.

He has missed just seven of Hartlepool’s 44 league games and produced a string of steady displays that have helped keep Chris Turner’s side out of the relegation zone at the foot of League One.

CENTRE BACK

Michael Turner (Sunderland)

Steve Bruce promised Sunderland fans he had bagged a bargain when he signed Turner for £4.5m last summer and, eight months on, his faith has been justified.

The former Hull centre-half has dominated the Black Cats defence all season, impressing with both his ability on the ground and dominance in the air.

His best display came at Manchester United last October, as Sunderland almost claimed their first win at Old Trafford since the 1960s, and his relationship with John Mensah has been a key feature of the Black Cats’ recovery in the second half of the season.

CENTRE BACK

Fabricio Coloccini (Newcastle)

Last season, Coloccini looked like he was playing in the wrong division as he struggled to come to terms with life in the Premier League. This season, the same has been true, but for a very different reason.

Coloccini has looked like exactly what he is, a seasoned international plying his trade in the nether reaches of the Championship.

He has dominated the best attackers in the division, and will be relishing the opportunity to re-establish his reputation in the top-flight next season.

LEFT BACK

Jose Enrique (Newcastle)

Like his team-mate Coloccini, Enrique has turned his Newcastle career around this season.

The Spaniard was expected to leave last summer, but since pledging himself to the Magpies last August, has developed into an outstanding attacking full-back capable of playing at a much higher level.

His marauding runs down the flank have been a characteristic of Newcastle’s play all season, and his first goal for the club, scored against Nottingham Forest last month, was one of the highlights of the campaign.

RIGHT MIDFIELD

Jordan Henderson (Sunderland)

When Steve Bruce gave Henderson a prominent role in Sunderland’s pre-season programme, it looked as though he was simply ensuring he had adequate midfield cover for the rest of the campaign.

Instead, the teenager has developed into a first-team regular, and has been one of the first names on Bruce’s team sheet for the majority of the season.

His enthusiasm and energy have made him a favourite of the Stadium of Light faithful, and having been named as Sunderland’s Young Player of the Year yesterday, the 19-year-old’s next honour should be a place in the England Under-21 squad.

CENTRE MIDFIELD

Danny Guthrie (Newcastle)

A number of Newcastle’s players appear to have improved this season, but few have made bigger strides forward than Guthrie.

The former Liverpool trainee started just four of the club’s first nine matches, but has subsequently muscled skipper Alan Smith out of the starting line-up to become a first-team regular.

His passing ability sets him apart from a number of Newcastle’s other midfielders, and he is now playing with more confidence than at any other stage of his Magpies career.

CENTRE MIDFIELD

Kevin Nolan (Newcastle)

It took Nolan four matches to open his account at Crystal Palace, but since scoring at Selhurst Park, the 27-year-old has not stopped hitting the back of the net.

A tally of 17 Championship goals is an exceptional return for a midfielder, as is Nolan's record of starting 44 of Newcastle's 45 matches.

His off-field influence has also been massive, with Nolan at the core of a group of senior players that has helped nurture the spirit that has carried the Magpies to the title.

LEFT MIDFIELD

Adam Johnson (Middlesbrough)

He didn’t kick a ball for the club after the end of January, but Johnson was still Middlesbrough’s Player of the Season by a distance.

He scored eight goals in the club’s opening 14 matches and showcased a dribbling ability and turn of pace that set him apart from any other attacker in the Championship.

He has subsequently gone on to catch the eye with his new club, Manchester City, and while Boro were never likely to keep him, it is tempting to wonder what might have been had he stayed on Teesside until the end of the season.

CENTRE FORWARD

Darren Bent (Sunderland)

Sunderland do not exactly have a good record when it comes to paying big money for strikers, but Bent has bucked the trend in spectacular fashion.

His record of 24 goals from 36 Premier League starts is bettered only by Wayne Rooney and Didier Drogba, and he goes into the final two matches of the season having scored more than half of his side’s goals.

He has embraced life on Wearside wholeheartedly, and will feel justifiably upset if he does not make Fabio Capello’s World Cup squad.

CENTRE FORWARD

Andy Carroll (Newcastle)

One centre forward has stood head and shoulders above his team-mates in terms of posing an attacking threat. Carroll has led the line effectively all season, and emerged into a muscular centre-forward capable of inheriting Newcastle’s coveted number nine shirt.

The majority of his 17 league goals have come at crucial times in crucial matches, with his aerial ability causing problems to defences.

SUBSTITUTES

Steve Harper (Newcastle) – Set a new club record for the most clean sheets in a season.

Alan Hutton (Tottenham) – Steve Bruce is desperate to tie the full-back to a permanent deal this summer.

Stephen McManus (Middlesbrough) – Helped shore up Boro’s defence in the second half of the season.

Barry Robson (Middlesbrough) – Added a muchneeded competitive edge to the Boro midfield.

Jonas Gutierrez (Newcastle) – Finally added the end product that was missing so often last season.

Peter Lovenkrands (Newcastle) – Scored 12 league goals after arriving as a free agent.

Tadgh Purcell (Darlington) – The Irishman has lit up an otherwise depressing campaign.