The Northern Echo Team of the Week: Week 2

Here is The Northern Echo’s Team of the Week:

GK – Nick Pope: Wasn’t required to make many saves, but commanded his area effectively and claimed a number of crosses. A clean sheet is a perfect start.

CB – Jamie Sterry: Returned to the side after a pre-season hampered by injury and showed his class on the right hand side.

CB – Fabian Schar: Capped a fine display at both ends of the field with the sensational long-range strike that opened the scoring.

CB – Rollin Menayese: A strong and solid debut keeping a clean sheet against recently relegated opposition. Helped Pools gain a first point of the season.

RM – Alex Pritchard: Ran the show from midfield for Sunderland at Ashton Gate. Provided two assists, the first being a through ball to Ellis Simms and the second being the cross for Ross Stewart.

CM – Bruno Guimaraes: Was at the heart of most of Newcastle’s best moves, passing and probing from the heart of midfield against Nottingham Forest.

CM – Matt Crooks: It was a tough day in a Boro side that fell to defeat but he got a goal at a key time in the game and provided an assist for the second.

CM – Jordan Thewliss: After Spennymoor fell behind the opening stages of the game, Thewliss responded with two first half goals as their league opener ended in a 3-3 draw with Hereford.

LM – Jack Clarke: Cleared a goal bound effort off the line at a crucial time in the game whilst playing a big role in the third goal.

CF – Ellis Simms: A constant threat throughout the 90 minutes and capped off a fine display with two well taken goals.

CF – Jacob Hazel: Continued his fine form in pre-season for Darlington with a goal on his league debut. It could well be the first of many this season for the Quakers.