Newcastle United's Tino Livramento (left) and Lewis Hall
Newcastle United's Tino Livramento and Lewis Hall
The days when Newcastle United - or indeed North East sides in general - were overlooked when it came to dishing out the top awards, are thankfully long gone. You only need to look at the nominations Alexander Isak, Jacob Murphy, Sandro Tonali and head coach Eddie Howe received for various honours throughout last season to see how the Magpies are very much in the conversation these days.
However that doesn't seem to have extended to some of the best young talent at the club right now. The nominations for the PFA Young Player of the Year have been announced and United duo Tino Livramento and Lewis Hall have somehow been overlooked.
Now in fairness, it's a strong list and it's hard to argue with many of the nominees. These things will always be controversial and with only six players on the shortlist, there are bound to be some glaring omissions.
Liam Delap, Myles Lewis-Skelly, Milos Kerkez, Dean Huijsen, Ethan Nwaneri and Morgan Rogers are certainly excellent talents with bright futures ahead of them
But it feels as though at least one of the Newcastle full-backs should be among the candidates after outstanding seasons in black-and-white.
Hall, for example, made more Premier League appearances that Arsenal left-back Lewis-Skelly, created five goals to Lewis-Skelly's one and wasn't sent off twice . . . unlike the Gunners' youngster. Both won ther first England caps, both helped their sides qualify for the Champions League, but only one played a key part in winning a major trophy.
Remind me who Newcastle defeated over two legs in the Carabao Cup semi-final again.
Milos Kerkez had an excellent season for Bournemouth and is about to move to Livepool in a huge deal - but only has one more assist than Hall in a side that finished in ninth, 10 points behind Newcastle.
Livramento has an even stronger case. He only missed one Premier League game all season and was instrumental in United's success, playing on both flanks and helping to set up Alexander Isak's second goal at Wembley.
England head coach Thomas Tuchel namechecked the Newcastle star as a key man for the future of the Three Lions senior side just last week, with the 22-year-old on international duty at the U21 EUROS in Slovakia.
Tino Livramento won the player of the match award in England U21s opener against Czechia
Of course it's fine margins and opinions are always going to vary. Delap is clearly an excellent talent, but 12 goals for an Ipswich side who were relegated doesn't scream award winner for me.
No one would argue with Rogers' inclusion after an incredible season with Villa, while Huijsen's form earned a £50m move to Real Madrid.
But it makes you wonder exactly what Livramento and Hall had to do to make it on to the shortlist.
Perhaps it's no bad thing, keeping them out of the spotlight with rumours of transfer interest from Manchester City for Livramento. It seems Pep Guardiola knows a player at any rate.