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PICTURE: Become a member of the Perchinho fan club!

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James Perch - Newcastle defenderThe rise and rise of Newcastle United utility man James Perch this season has been simply unbelievable. Newcastle’s number 14 used to be permanently on the bench and whenever Alan Pardew called for him to warm up your heart would sink and you’d be counting down the seconds until he got booked. At the beginning of the 2010/11 Premier League season under Chris Hughton, Perch even racked up half a dozen bookings in a row; oh how things have changed.

James Perch has been as solid as a rock recently. Now nicknamed ‘Perchinho’, Perch has performed admirably in a number of positions. The absence of Cheick Tiote saw Perch fill in as the anchor man in the middle of the park for a while and he showed that he is a decent defensive midfielder. Then as Davide Santon starting looking a little bit shaky at left back, Perch filled in there with aplomb, too.

Now, with captain Fabricio Coloccini injured, Perch has moved to centre back and has done just as well. Alongside Mike Williamson, Perch has looked very assured and has even outshined Mike to some extent. He has been pivotal in clean sheets against Liverpool and Swansea City, saving a certain Luis Suarez goal against the Reds and helping to get Pepe Reina sent off late in the game.

The turnaround in James Perch’s Newcastle United career has been so marked, that he now even has his own fan club, with @davidpick1987 and his mates all wearing James Perch masks in front of St James’ Park. Thanks to David for this picture…

Perch will be central to Newcastle’s attempt to secure three clean sheets in a row in the Premier League against Bolton Wanderers this afternoon and is now an important squad player. All hail Perchinho!

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Click on the Newcastle beauty below to see the Jessica Spencer WAG gallery

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