Being in Team of Year is an honour these stars should enjoy

THERE will be huge debate among supporters and pundits as to who should and who should not have been named in the PFA Championship Team of the Year but I have to say, I don’t have too many complaints about it.

Three Newcastle United and four Brighton players seems like a decent split given the fact both of those two sides look set to go up.

As for the three Magpies players who have been selected, I have to say I think they all deserve it.

Dwight Gayle had an excellent first half of the season before he was injured and his goals have put Newcastle in the position they are in now.

While, at times, Jonjo Shelvey has simply looked a cut above at this level. As for Jamaal Lascelles (pictured) , I think he is a player with huge potential and he has led the team well this season.

I know that will probably be controversial among Newcastle fans, but clearly his fellow professionals have seen enough in him to give him this accolade and for that reason I believe he deserves it. There have been some dodgy performances in there, without doubt, but he has done well over all in my view. I have to say, from personal experience, I know how much it will mean to the 11 players named in that side. Of all the individual accolades you can receive as a professional footballer, this is perhaps the most special of them all. I was named in the PFA Team of the Year three times – once at Newcastle as well as when I achieved promotion with Portsmouth and also when I was top scorer for Stockport. It really was a special feeling.

To know your fellow professionals have voted for you and decided you were the best player in your position for the season, that really does mean a lot.

It is the biggest compliment a professional footballer can receive, for his peers to acknowledge how well he has played.

So congratulations to all 11 players – particularly to Lascelles, Shelvey and Gayle. You deserve it.