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Vote For Your April Star
Written by Newcastle Utd
The final Carling Player of the Month award of the season will be presented on Sunday to one of five players
The month of April delivered another mixed bag of results - but the month also helped deliver Premier League safety for Newcastle United.
And so we have the shortlist for the final Carling Player of the Month award of the season, which will be presented on the pitch before Sunday's game against West Brom by one lucky fan who votes for their star performer.
Carling panelist and Chronicle chief sports writer Lee Ryder, who drew up the nominations alongside Toon legend Bob Moncur, said: "It's been a month of solid progress for Newcastle and there have been some vital results along the way.
"The 0-0 draw with champions Man United all but sealed survival and the win over Wolves showed that St. James' Park can be the fortress it once was again."
Here are a list of candidates:
Jonas Gutierrez
The Argentine bagged a special goal against Wolves to cap a good 4-1 win but his hard working displays out wide have been vital throughout the month of April making him a good candidate for player of the month.
Tim Krul
The Dutchman has enjoyed a season to remember after breaking on to the Premier League stage when called upon.
Once again with Steve Harper injured he repeated his exploits between the sticks.
This time with an impressive clean sheet against Man United before Newcastle bagged a point at Blackpool with Tim in form again.
Joey Barton
The Scouse midfielder has been in sparkling form this season making him a candidate for the overall award for the campaign's top man.
In April he used all of his hard work and guile to steer United through a testing month and help deliver the prize of Premier League football again next year.
Mike Williamson
For a player that is playing his first ever campaign in the Premier League, it has been hard to tell for Big Mike.
And in April is dogged defending shone through again.
Not many defenders have shackled Wayne Rooney and Co this season but Williamson's solid display against Man U was the highlight of an impressive month.
Fabricio Coloccini
Williamson will be the first to admit that football is a team game.
And forming a great central defensive partnership with Fabricio Coloccini has been one of the secrets of his successes this season.
An unfortunate arm injury curtailed that combination in May but some classy displays from the Argentine alongside the former Torquay man helped steer the club to safety.