It has been very much a season of two halves, with the conclusion still to be determined with 180 minutes remaining.

In traditional Carlisle United style, the Blues are clinging onto something right to the bitter end of a campaign that once promised automatic promotion but now sees a play-off chance only within possible reach.

After the glorious start and frustrating finish, which player has stood above the others in trying to drive United towards better times?

That is the question we pose today, as we invite you to pick your News & Star player of the year for 2016/17.

The trophy claimed by captain Danny Grainger 12 months ago is back up for grabs, with the likes of Kyle Dempsey, David Amoo, Matty Robson, Lee Miller, James Berrett, Richard Keogh, Cleveland Taylor and Keiren Westwood among our winners in previous campaigns.

Those likely to be among the front runners this time out will be the players who did the most to put United in such a strong position in the first few months of term.

As our five-day voting window opens, winger NICKY ADAMS may be one popular choice, if the opinions of his peers are anything to go by.

The former Northampton man was the only United man to figure in the PFA League Two team of the season.

Described by rival managers as the equal of any wide player in the fourth tier, the first of Carlisle's signings last summer has produced many quality moments, while his assists tally has been typically high.

And although goals have been harder to come by, Adams has produced a couple of beauties, not least his cracking volley against Doncaster on Valentine's Day.

The 30-year-old could be a popular choice, but will have a number of rivals for the award.


Jason Kennedy How, for instance, about JASON KENNEDY , whose resurgence as a goalscoring midfielder this season has only been interrupted by the groin injury that has kept him out of many of United's recent games?

Until misfortune struck, Kennedy was arguably the biggest success story of this campaign and one of the main catalysts for Carlisle's improvement.

The division's player of the month for October, the ex-Bradford man has poached 11 goals in 31 games, easily the best return of his career.

He was out in front as Carlisle's current top scorer, until the late-season return to form of JABO IBEHRE , who has taken his tally to 13 in recent weeks.

The big striker from Islington has found the net in United's last four games, having scored nine by early February.

If Ibehre can extend his purple patch today and blast Carlisle back into belated contention, his influence could attract votes in our poll.


Charlie Wyke Before February, of course, there was only one real goalscoring tale in town and while he is regrettably now a Bradford player, Carlisle's promotion chances have been boosted considerably by the work of CHARLIE WYKE between last August and late January.

Although no longer at the club, has there been a more influential player this season than a man who scored 18 goals before being lured to League One?

Wyke was genuinely prolific, including a first league hat-trick in his stunning form as 2016 neared its end.

On that basis, some may conclude that our trophy should be sent to West Yorkshire.

But what of the others closer to home? In midfield, MIKE JONES and LUKE JOYCE formed an early-season partnership that seemed to have given the Blues a strong foundation on which to build a serious challenge.

Summer signing Jones has surely been one of United's most consistent players, with his timing, aggression and ability to read the game. The only shame is that he has been restricted to 33 appearances because of injury. Certainly his first knock, at Luton in December, contributed to the first real wobble of Carlisle's campaign.

Joyce, meanwhile, saw off a new wave of competition for his place and in the opening months of 2016/16 was arguably United's best performer. Among the most determined pros around, Joyce returned fitter and sharper than ever and in his consistent start even produced a goal-of-the-season contender: a cracking strike against Crawley.

Another player in fine form until injury struck was last season's multiple award-winner, DANNY GRAINGER . Carlisle's captain hit such a hot streak in the autumn that he equalled a club record for scoring in six consecutive games.


Danny Grainger Some feat, from left-back. But Grainger's influence on the team and on United's progress was outstanding, along with his captaincy and it was no surprise that when he was also cut down at Luton on December 10, along with Jones, that United struggled to regain their previous composure and fluency in the weeks and months that followed.

Perhaps, then, the 30-year-old will command further votes as he tries to help his local club cling on to a promotion dream that Grainger, as much as anyone, would cherish.

Others in the running include some now familiar faces. MARK GILLESPIE is on the way to completing an ever-present league season in goal, which would be a welcome achievement from a player who seems to have buried the injury problems of past seasons.

Carlisle's longest-serving player has so far held off the challenge of Max Crocombe for his position at the rear of United's team.

Regulars at the back, meanwhile, include vice-captain MICHAEL RAYNES , always a vocal and influential figure and who scored that memorable winner against Hartlepool last October.


Tom Miller Then there is TOM MILLER , another who has featured often in Keith Curle's side: 47 times so far to be precise, with MACAULAY GILLESPHEY and SHAUN BRISLEY also making plenty of outings.

Other supporters may opt for the impact of Bermudan winger REGGIE LAMBE , who scored Carlisle's first league goals of the season and has chipped in with a couple of recent efforts to try and keep the challenge alive, taking his tally to eight. Striker SHAUN MILLER has notched seven in his maiden Blues campaign.

United's second half of 2016/17 has been regrettably poor but will any of the January additions, such as GARY LIDDLE or JAMIE PROCTOR find favour with voters?

As ever, it's over to you to decide.


HOW TO VOTE

Online: Use the voting panel alongside this article and on other Carlisle Utd pages

Email: Send your message to sport.carlisle@cngroup.co.uk with United PoY in the subject line.

Players who have made 10 or more starts this season, and are eligible for the competition, are:

  • NICKY ADAMS
  • SHAUN BRISLEY
  • JAMIE DEVITT
  • MARK ELLIS
  • MACAULAY GILLESPHEY
  • MARK GILLESPIE
  • DANNY GRAINGER
  • JABO IBEHRE
  • MIKE JONES
  • LUKE JOYCE
  • JASON KENNEDY
  • REGGIE LAMBE
  • GARY LIDDLE
  • TOM MILLER
  • SHAUN MILLER
  • JOHN O'SULLIVAN
  • JAMIE PROCTOR
  • MICHAEL RAYNES
  • CHARLIE WYKE

The voting deadline is midnight on Wednesday, May 3 . The trophy is supplied by Longhorn.