Robbie is a shining star

ROBBIE Simpson is still in pole position to claim the 'Chronicle Star Man' award for the season — but a group of players is primed for a late assault on the prize.

Simpson is currently on the comeback trail after breaking his toe.

And it is perhaps a measure of Athletic's overall inconsistency that 17 different players have been handed man-of-the-match awards so far in 2011-12.

James Wesolowski has, at most, a couple of chances at the end of the campaign to add to his five nominations so far.

The midfielder, missing after shoulder surgery, may be out of the running to overhaul the current leader.

But only three nominations short of Simpson are Jean-Yves Mvoto — thoroughly outstanding in the midweek win at Hartlepool — as well as ever-consistent Kieran Lee and promising centre-back James Tarkowski.

Last season's winner Chris Taylor is on two, while top scorer Shefki Kuqi has surprisingly only one nomination, picked up in the 3-1 win at Leyton Orient in September.

Star Man nominations — Robbie Simpson 7; James Wesolowski 5; Jean-Yves Mvoto, Reuben Reid, Kieran Lee, James Tarkowski 4; Tom Adeyemi, Alex Cisak 3; Zander Diamond, Chris Taylor, Filipe Morais 2; Carl Winchester, Shefki Kuqi, Dean Furman, David Mellor, Luca Scapuzzi, Nathan Clarke 1. Total: 46