There’s a plethora of familiar faces in the latest instalment of Isle of Man Newspapers’ Team of the Week.

As a result, the hypothetical XI features an intriguing blend of youth and experience following the latest round of fixtures in the Canada Life Premier League.

It’s as you were at the top of the table with Rushen United and Ayre United leading the way, therefore both teams are well represented after impressing Eric Clague’s esteemed player ratings panel.

But donning the Team of the Week goalkeeper gloves for the first time is RYCOB shot-stopper Braden Birchall who impressed for the northerners against Marown, producing a string of fine saves in Crosby to prevent the home side from winning by a bigger margin in their 3-0 victory.

There are also three seasonal debuts in the traditional four-man TotW defence, namely Birchall’s fellow northerner Dominic Parish of Ramsey, plus Matty McQuarrie and DHSOB’s veteran Martin King.

Parish enjoyed a standout game in the heart of the Ramsey defence as they pushed St George’s all the way at Ballacloan Stadium, while McQuarrie shone as he formed part of a fine Marown defence that allowed the aforementioned Youthie only a couple of chances in his side’s 3-0 win at the Memorial Playing Fields.

Likewise, King produced a good display at the back for DHSOB alongside Drew Ward to help the Blackberry Lane side to a 1-1 draw with Union Mills.

Completing the four-man defence is another familiar face to Team of the Week, Peel’s Andy Crennell who continued his superb season with another excellent performance for the westerners away at Ayre United.

Stealing the show in the latter match though was Shaun Kelly who bagged the two decisive goals for the Tangerines to help seal a narrow, hard-fought 2-1 win over the Sunset City outfit to remain level on points with leaders Rushen.

As such, Kelly earns his fifth TotW call-up of the season already, edging out team-mate Johnny Shields to take his place in a three-man midfield alongside Rushen’s Stephen Riding and Union Mills’ Kyle Uren.

Riding continued his return to top form by delivering another impressive display in the heart of the Spaniards’ midfield to help them get the better of a spirited Douglas Royal at Croit Lowey.

Uren has been the Millers’ best player so far during the 2021-22 season and scored a superbly-taken goal to claim a dramatic late equaliser in his side’s aforementioned 1-1 draw at Old Boys.

Leading the attack in the latest Team of the Week are three players who certainly need no introduction, having graced the top flight of Manx football for many a year now.

Ciaran McNulty was the standout player for St George’s as his workrate caused constant problems for the Ramsey defence at Ballacloan and therefore earns his fourth TotW call-up of the season already.

Another to shine in that match in the north of the island was his strike partner - and another of the leading scorers in Premier League history - Ste Priestnal who helped himself to two crucial cracking goals to seal victory for Geordies.

Joining the Saints duo up front is Rushen stalwart Aaron Hawley who was once again at the heart of things for the Spaniards, rolling back the years with another two-goal salvo to help see off Royal and maintain the southerners’ position at the top of the table.

Another to impress in that match at Croit Lowey was the man in the middle, Ollie Johnson, who produced a good performance with the whistle to claim the referee of the week honours for the second time this season.

Goalkeeper

Braden Birchall (RYCOB) TotW apps: 1

Defence

Dominic Parish (Ramsey) TotW apps: 1

Matty McQuarrie (Marown) TotW apps: 1

Martin King (DHSOB) TotW apps: 1

Andy Crennell (Peel) TotW apps: 3

Midfield

Stephen Riding (Rushen) TotW apps: 2

Shaun Kelly (Ayre) TotW apps: 5

Kyle Uren (Union Mills) TotW apps: 3

Attack

Ciaran McNulty (St George’s) TotW apps: 4

Steven Priestnal (St George’s) TotW apps: 3

Aaron Hawley (Rushen) TotW apps: 4

Referee

Ollie Johnson (Rushen v D. Royal) RotW apps: 2