We've Got Perchinio

Irreplaceable Versatility

Newcastle United's James Perch, 26, joined the Premier League side in July 2010 from Notts Forest for a fee believed to be around £1m. In his first season on Tyneside, Perch established a new Premier League record by receiving five yellow cards in his first five league games. On his return from suspension, he scored a late own goal which lead to a home defeat against Stoke City. He continued his disappointing form, and was eventually dropped, making a total of 13 league appearances in his first season at Newcastle. 

The right back began the 2011/12 season firmly on the fringes of the Newcastle squad. However, with Steven Taylor's injury keeping him out of the side for the majority of the season, Mike Williamson was promoted to the starting XI, and Perch featured more on the bench. Injury to skipper Coloccini gave Perch a brief starting berth in the centre of defence, where his lacking of height didn't do him any favours. However, throughout the season James Perch began to show his versatility and usefulness as a utility player, playing not only as right back, but also in the centre and left of defence, and at times in the centre of midfield. Since his move from Nottingham Forest, many fans responded with groans of disappointment to see his name on the Newcastle squad sheet, be it in the starting line up or on the bench. However, he performed admirably over the course of the 2011/12 season, improving greatly over the second half of that season, and ultimately playing a part in Newcastle's 5th placed finish. 

The much improved Perch is indeed a product of his own hard work and ethic, but some credit also has to be given to Manager Alan Pardew and his coaching staff. A team that has turned l'enfant terrible Hatem Ben Arfa into le magicien that has lit the league on fire with some of his superb individual efforts. And the Hatem Bomb isn't the only Newcastle player to be transformed such to become such a fan favourite. Newcastle United supporters pack to the rafters at St. James Park, proudly bellowing out "We've Got Perchinio" in response to the  Mansfield born jack of all trade's new found indispensability to the club.

Perch is only one of a handful of Newcastle players that play in the first team that are eligible to play for England, and while he has yet to make an appearance for his country, many of his supporters would surely believe he is on the right track for that first call up. The immense versatility that Perch has is an asset to any team, for club and for country, so it's reasonable to expect that, if he does keep performing this way, then the call up will become an inevitability.

Something that works about Perch has been the emergence of Liverpool's Martin Kelly. The 22 year old is considered to be somewhat of an exciting fullback prospect for the future, and has already made his full England debut, being part of the squad that went to the 2012 Euro's, albeit not making a single appearance in the competition itself. And with him starting to rack up the appearances at Liverpool under Brendan Rodgers, former Liverpool manager Roy Hodgson may continue selecting Kelly for his England squads. However, Kelly suffered what is looking like quite a bad injury in Liverpool's derby day defeat against Manchester United on Sunday, and at the moment looks like he will be out until the New Year. 

Whilst it is unfortunate for Kelly, it may give rise to opportunities for Hodgson to look further afield for his squad selections, perhaps even making the trek up to the North East. Before any England call up, Roy will likely want to see why Newcastle fans are indeed so pleased that they have Perchinio.