It's been a strange old season for Middlesbrough Football Club.

After narrowly missing out on the play-offs last term there was a feeling of resignation around the club that they may need to take a step back in order to move forward.

That meant offloading some of their higher earning player and replacing them with up-and-coming players who could be bought cheap, developed and used as first team players before eventually selling them on at a profit.

Combine a newly-assembled playing squad with an inexperienced manager in Jonathan Woodgate and you begin to see why the season has been such a struggle.

Middlesbrough are currently sitting just six points outside of the relegation zone after a largely disappointing season so far.

But among this season of consolidation, a number of players have been able to really establish themselves as consistent performers.

So who have been Jonathan Woodgate's top players this season? We took to Whoscored.com to look over the number and pick out the top five Middlesbrough players based on statistics.

It's been a real coming of age season for the 20-year-old.

After playing a bit-part under Tony Pulis last term, Tavernier has established himself as a first team regular this season as he breaks out of central midfielder to link the engine room with the attacking third.

Two goals and four assists this term is a decent return, and that's enough to make him Middlesbrough's fifth best performer, according to the statistics.

He's like to be most supporters' pick for player of the year, and that's backed up the statistics.

In fairness to Jonny Howson he's played most of this season out of his natural position, however few would know based on the quality of his displays.

But after 29 appearances this term there's no doubting that he's been one of Jonathan Woodgate's top players.

He had an incredibly impressive pre-season but got off to a slow start in the Championship after suffering an early injury.

But Hayden Coulson has rarely looked back since returning at the end of last year.

The left-sided player is now a regular under Jonathan Woodgate and, assuming he can stay fit, it's a role that he's likely to hold long-term.

A surprising choice in second place, but the statistics don't lie.

Ryan Shotton was a regular before suffering an injury last year but after returning to the matchday squad last week he could certainly have a big role to play.

The defender is out of contract in the summer so it's in his best interests to impress in the remaining months.

Middlesbrough's talisman in the centre of defence, the Spaniard is certainly an integral part of the side.

Another player who is out of contract, Daniel Ayala will be a massive miss if he was to move away from the club at the end of the season.

He may be injured at present, but Jonathan Woodgate will be praying that he'll return sooner rather than later.