Revealed: Scott Wilson's North-East Team of the Season

GOALKEEPER

Jordan Pickford (Sunderland)

It has been a wretched season on Wearside, but Jordan Pickford’s development has provided a rare ray of light amidst the gloom.

The 23-year-old has been superb, displaying a maturity way beyond his years and showcasing shot-stopping skills that earned him a deserved call-up to the senior England squad.

His distribution is first class – a must for a modern goalkeeper – with his best display coming in September’s 1-0 defeat at Tottenham. Goodness knows how bad things would have been had he not been between the sticks for the Black Cats.

DEFENDERS

Kallum Griffiths (Spennymoor)

The North-East’s professional clubs do not boast a stand-out right-back, so Spennymoor’s Kallum Griffiths gets the nod for the Team of the Season thanks to his consistently impressive displays for Jason Ainsley’s team.

Griffiths, who was a trainee at Sunderland before also spending time with Bradford City, scored a crucial opener in Spennymoor’s play-off semi-final win over Nantwich, and is a full-back who is equally comfortable in defence or attack.

He has been a key part of the Moors defence all season as the club secured a place in National League North.

Ben Gibson (Middlesbrough)

Boro’s defensive strength is the reason why they still have a chance of avoiding relegation, and Ben Gibson has been their star performer all season.

The 24-year-old has taken the step up to the Premier League in his stride, and having been elevated to the senior England squad by Gareth Southgate, a first full cap cannot be far away.

Gibson has always been a committed defender, but his assurance on the ball has improved markedly this term.

Whatever happens to Boro, he is surely destined for bigger and better things soon.

Ciaran Clark (Newcastle)

Jamaal Lascelles might have made the PFA Championship Team of the Year, but those who have watched Newcastle all season will agree that Ciaran Clark has regularly outperformed his team-mate.

Eyebrows were raised when the Magpies signed the Irishman despite his role in the Aston Villa team that was relegated last season, but it has proved an astute move.

Clark delivers exactly what you want from a defender in the Championship – he is tough, uncompromising and has missed just 11 league matches all term.

David Ferguson (Darlington)

Having started his career in Darlington’s youth system, David Ferguson went full circle when he re-joined the Quakers from Shildon in January.

In the four months since, he has established himself as a solid and reliable left-back, strong in the tackle and comfortable on the ball.

The former Blackpool skipper has shown commendable commitment to overcome the disappointment of his exit from the Football League, and the highlight of his season came on Easter Monday when he scored a 30-yard cracker in Darlington’s 4-2 win over FC United.

MIDFIELDERS

Matt Ritchie (Newcastle)

Prising Matt Ritchie from Premier League Bournemouth was one of Newcastle’s biggest coups last summer, and the winger has been one of the most consistent performers in the whole of the Championship over the last nine months.

He has scored 16 goals in all competitions despite his position on the flank, and has also been responsible for seven assists, with his experience and creativity proving crucial to Newcastle’s promotion push.

It will be interesting to see how he fares back in the top-flight next term.

Marten de Roon (Middlesbrough)

Middlesbrough broke their transfer record to sign Marten de Roon from Atalanta last summer, and the Dutchman has improved as the season has gone on, to the point where they could now struggle to hold on to him once the transfer window reopens.

He has always been neat and assured in possession, but has he added a steely edge to his game in recent months and has also begun to make more of an impact in the opposition box.

He has scored five goals in all competitions, with his last-minute equaliser at Manchester City one of the highlights of Boro’s campaign.

Jonjo Shelvey (Newcastle)

There are a number of candidates, but Jonjo Shelvey can deservedly claim to be Newcastle’s Player of the Season thanks to his performances over the course of the promotion campaign.

He is the Magpies’ key creative force, with his pinpoint long-range passes setting up a series of goals and chances.

He has scored five times himself, but it was his relationship with Dwight Gayle that did so much to fire Newcastle into the top two in the first half of the season.

Yes, he has disciplinary issues. But he is also a sublime talent.

Josh Gillies (Darlington)

Having joined Darlington as a free agent after turning down a contract at Gateshead last summer, it did not take long for midfielder Josh Gillies to make an impact with the Quakers.

Within the opening two months of the season, he was signing a new long-term deal that commits him to Darlington to 2019.

That underlines the immediacy of his impact, with his stand-out performance seeing him score two superb free-kicks in an early-season win over Alfreton.

Boasting an abundance of talent, Gillies is one of a number of Darlington players who look capable of playing at a higher level.

FORWARDS

Jermain Defoe (Sunderland)

Jermain Defoe is one of the top ten goalscorers in the Premier League, yet plays for a side that has been in a bottom-three position since mid-September.

That says everything you need to know about his enduring ability at the age of 34.

His 14 league goals were insufficient to keep Sunderland in the top-flight, but deservedly earned the striker a recall to the England team.

As potent and clinical as ever inside the penalty area, Defoe’s best display came in Sunderland’s shock 4-0 win at Crystal Palace. He will leave later this summer with his head held high.

Dwight Gayle (Newcastle)

He might have been in and out of the Newcastle side since mid-January because of injury, but Dwight Gayle is still one of the main reasons why the Magpies will be playing Premier League football next season.

He boasts 22 goals from 31 Championship appearances, a magnificent return that highlights his goalscoring prowess.

Many of his goals in the first half of the season were crucial, with his most memorable performance coming as he claimed a hat-trick in the 4-3 win over Norwich. Keeping him fit will be a key priority next season.

SUBS

Victor Valdes (Middlesbrough), Calum Chambers (Middlesbrough), Jamaal Lascelles (Newcastle), Isaac Hayden (Newcastle), Nathan Thomas (Hartlepool), Alvaro Negredo (Middlesbrough), Mark Beck (Darlington).