The latest installment of Isle of Man Newspapers’ Team of the Week features five more debutants.

With the Railway Cup just around the corner and most teams having passed the halfway mark of the season, the newcomers continue to come in thick and fast in the hypothetical XI.

Two of the debutants in question line up in a traditional four-man defence, namely Nick Leung and Sean Gavin who join St Mary’s duo Karl Clark and Jack McVey.

St John’s centre-back Leung produced a man of the match performance as the Mullen-e-Cloie side frustrated Canada Life Premier League title hopefuls Corinthians, holding the Whites to a 2-2 draw.

Likewise, Gavin shone in an unfamiliar full-back role for DHSOB as Liam Buckley’s men overcame Douglas Athletic 4-2 at Blackberry Lane to leapfrog the Pinks into sixth place.

Clark and McVey both excelled for St Mary’s who came from behind to upset defending champions St George’s at Glencrutchery Road.

Clark was in typically fine fettle in defence for the Bowl outfit and scored an unstoppable header late in the game to give his side the lead, before man of the match McVey scored a sublime goal of the season contender to seal the three points against his former club. As such, McVey racks up his seven Team of the Appearance of the season already.

Another player to impress at Blackberry Lane was Tom Weir who produced a good performance in the heart of the Old Boys midfield, grabbing a goal to cement his place in TotW for the first time this season.

Also making their seasonal bows are Jack Saxon and Johnny Holland who join Lee Gale in the four-man midfield. Saxon was named man of the match as he helped Rushen United romp to victory at home to southern rivals Castletown, bagging a brace as the Spaniards won 8-0.

Tough-tackling Holland delivered a fierce and tenacious performance in the heart of the St John’s midfield as they held Corinthians to that aforementioned 2-2 draw which could potentially dent the Whites’ title hopes.

Since missing the start of the season through injury, Gale has bounced back in style for Peel and stole the show with a hat-trick in the westerners’ 9-0 win at Douglas Royal.

The winger’s second goal against Royal was his 200th for Peel’s first team (150th in the Premier League and 235 overall including combi) and came in his 300th club appearance overall.

Also shining in that match at Ballafletcher was reigning Player of the Month Rhys Oates who, like Gale, helped himself to a hat-trick and duly takes his place in a front two in TotW.

Completing the attacking line-up and appearing for a second week in a row is Dan Hattersley, the former Geelong, Halifax and Altrincham strike grabbing a brace as the Spaniards demolished Castletown at Croit Lowey.

Donning the goalkeeper gloves in the latest hypothetical XI is Matty Quirk who, despite being on the losing side against Old Boys, pulled off several good saves for Douglas Athletic, preventing a larger margin of victory at Blackberry Lane.

Claiming the referee of the week honours is Stuart Kneen who produced a good performance in the middle of the St George’s v St Mary’s game at Glencrutchery Road, his fourth TotW appearance of the season.

Team of the Week

Goalkeeper

Matty Quirk (Douglas Athletic) Team of the Week apps: 2

Defence

Karl Clark (St Mary’s) TotW apps: 2

Nick Leung (St John’s) TotW apps: 1

Jack McVey (St Mary’s) TotW apps: 7

Sean Gavin (DHSOB) TotW apps: 1

Midfield

Jack Saxon (Rushen) TotW apps: 1

Johnny Holland (St John’s) TotW apps: 1

Tom Weir (DHSOB) TotW apps: 1

Lee Gale (Peel) TotW apps: 3

Attack

Rhys Oates (Peel) TotW apps: 3

Dan Hattersley (Rushen) TotW apps: 2

Referee

Stuart Kneen (St George’s v St Mary’s) RotW apps: 4