The Championship kicks off this weekend and it features some of the traditional giants of the English game. Ahead of the new season, we look at eleven players that are worth keeping an eye on in the second tier of English football.
Ross McCormack
The Scottish striker has left Fulham for fellow Championship side Aston Villa for a league record £12 million. He’s never played in the Premier League, but his record of 38 goals in 89 appearances in a struggling Fulham team is impressive. His goals will be crucial in Villa’s promotion charge and he’ll be looking to reinvigorate what became a passive and apathetic crowd at Villa Park last season.
Will Grigg
No player scored more goals in League One last season than Wigan’s Will Grigg. The world was hoping that he made an appearance at Euro 2016, but he never took to the field. The chant overshadows what is actually a very good goal scoring record. He scored 25 goals for the Latics last season and Wigan will fight off any advances for his signature if he makes a good transition to the Championship.
Jordan Ayew
The Ghanaian striker looked a lost soul for Aston Villa last season. He was clearly of a higher standard than his teammates and the only other player that was on his level, Idrissa Gueye, has departed. He only scored 7 goals in the league last season, but he should excel in the Championship. He’s one of the biggest names in the league and he’ll look to quickly form a successful partnership with McCormack.
Kemar Roofe
Lots of criticism can be aimed at Leeds in recent years, but they’ve been quick in securing the signing of Oxford’s Kemar Roofe. He was named League Two’s Player of the Year last season, but the Championship is a big step up for the 23 year old. He scored 25 goals in all competitions last year and for a team that only scored 50 in total; he looks to be a smart acquisition for Leeds.
Jordan Graham
There’s been a lot of noise around Molineux over the summer. There’s a new owner and a new manager, but Jordan Graham will still be at the club. He was in good form for Wolves last season before he tore his cruciate ligaments in January, scoring once and providing five assists to his teammates in the 11 starts he made last year.
Shane Duffy
The Irishman failed to live up to the standards at Everton, but he’s flourished since dropping down a league to the Championship. The defender was dominant in the air last season and also scored four goals from set pieces for Blackburn. It’s surprising that no Premier League teams have offered him another chance, but their loss is Rovers’ gain and he’s an integral part to their defence.
Fernando Forestieri
Sheffield Wednesday fell at the final hurdle last season, but they can owe their progress to the playoff final to Forestieri. He contributed to 21 league goals last season, scoring 15 and assisting 6. The aim will be another promotion challenge and if he combines with his former Watford teammate Almen Abdi, the Owls will be amongst the leading contenders again.
Sergi Canos
The Norwich third kit has deflected attention away from what could be the signing of the season in the Championship. Former Barcelona and Liverpool youngster Canos spent last season on loan at Brentford, scoring seven goals and providing four assists. Norwich already have a striker in Cameron Jerome who’s proven in the Championship and the Spanish winger will be relied upon to provide the big striker with crosses into the box.
Alexander Mitrovic
The enigma that is Alexander Mitrovic has stayed on at Newcastle and he’s one of a number of players who have made the Magpies favourites to win the Championship this season. There were moments of the sublime and moments of sheer madness from the Serbian striker last season, but in a league where physicality and ability in the air is a positive, he should do well. It’s little wonder that the combination of him, alongside Dwight Gayle and Ayoze Perez, under the management of Rafa Benitez, makes them favourites.
Tom Bradshaw
Bradshaw has never played in the Championship before, but he was the top scorer for Walsall in League One last season with 17 goals. His arrival at Barnsley is well received and he’ll bring more goals to a side that scored 70 last year. The Tykes were promoted as League One playoff winners last season and Bradshaw’s goals will give them an edge in securing their Championship status.
Anthony Knockaert
Brighton came so close to automatic promotion last season, but drew in the deciding game against Middlesbrough. The Seagulls went on an incredible unbeaten run in late 2015, but once this ended they struggled for form until Knockaert’s arrival in January. The former Leicester player has twice shown his usefulness in a promotion push, scoring 11 goals in 20 starts last season. A full season at the Amex Stadium could help him achieve promotion with Brighton.