The first Isle of Man Newspapers’ Team of the Week of 2022 features no fewer than six debutants in the hypothetical XI.

After an extended break for Christmas plus the Railway and FA cups, there was a full programme of fixtures in the Canada Life Premier League last Saturday for the first time since the end of November.

Rushen United maintained station at the top of the table thanks to a ruthless 8-0 win over lowly RYCOB and, with Matty Cregeen keeping a clean sheet for the Spaniards, he dons the goalkeeper jersey in the latest Team of the Week.

Lining up in front of him in a three-man defence are his Rushen team-mate Cameron Dudley plus Ayre United’s Jamie Callister and Peel’s Sam Kennaugh.

Dudley also enjoyed a fine game for Rushen at Scoill ree Gorree to earn his second TotW call-up of the season so far, while Callister produced another standout performance for Ayre and headed in what proved to be the winning goal for the Tangerines away at DHSOB.

Kennaugh was one of Peel’s star performers as he helped to blunt Douglas Royal’s attack which laid the foundations for the westerners to triumph 4-0 at Douglas Road and leapfrog their opponents into sixth in the table.

Also impressing in that game in the Sunset City was Matty Shimmin who shone in the engine room for the hosts and therefore takes his place in the Team of the Week midfield.

Joining him in the centre of the park are Ayre’s Johnny Shields, Rushen’s Adam Cooil and Ramsey’s Rob Moreton.

Shields was the man of the match as the Tangerines clinched a hard-fought 2-1 win over Old Boys at Blackberry Lane, setting up the winning goal, while Cooil helped himself to a goal in an all-round good performance for Rushen against Youthie in the north of the island.

There was no doubting the star of the show at Garey Mooar where Ramsey got the better of Union Mills in a nine-goal thriller - scoring no fewer than three of those goals was Moreton who duly takes his place in Team of the Week.

Leading the line in a three-man attack in the latest hypothetical XI are a trio of players who, between them, notched up seven goals last Saturday.

Scoring the bulk of them was Rushen legend Aaron Hawley who chipped in with a four-goal haul to put Youthie to the sword at Scoill ree Gorree, while Jake Robertshaw enhanced his burgeoning reputation with a two-goal salvo for Peel during their aforementioned 4-0 win at home to Douglas Royal.

Completing the front three is Matty Kent-Lloyd who impressed for Corinthians, scoring a goal to help the reigning Premier League champions see off the challenge of Laxey 2-0 at Ballafletcher.

Claiming the refereeing honours this week is Peter Greenhill who produced a good performance with the whistle during the latter match between Corinthians and Laxey.

Team of the Week

Goalkeeper

Matty Cregeen (Rushen) TotW apps: 1

Defence

Cameron Dudley (Rushen) TotW apps: 2

Jamie Callister (Ayre) TotW apps: 4

Sam Kennaugh (Peel) TotW apps: 1

Midfield

Jonny Shields (Ayre) TotW apps: 3

Adam Cooil (Rushen) TotW apps: 2

Matty Shimmin (Peel) TotW apps: 1

Rob Moreton (Ramsey) TotW apps: 1

Attack

Aaron Hawley (Rushen) TotW apps: 5

Matty Kent Lloyd (Corinthians) TotW apps: 1

Jacob Robertshaw (Peel) TotW apps: 1

Referee

Peter Greenhill - Rotw apps: 1