With the new Championship season less than a month away a lot of clubs have already made some key signings in the fight for survival or promotion. We take a look at the top five players who could prove to be difference makers when the campaign gets underway.
1. Kevin Phillips (Blackpool)
Blackpool boss Ian Holloway pulled off a couple of shrewd buys before the start of last season, and Phillips could prove to be a player in a similar mould.
He might be 37 now but still knows the way to goal and has his fair share of experience when it comes to getting teams promoted.
Phillips played a key role in getting Sunderland and West Brom promoted and despite having not featured much for Birmingham, his strike rate still stands at just less than a goal every other game.
With Luke Varney gone and DJ Campbell set to leave Bloomfield Road, Phillips could find himself the star of the show again, as long as he can stay fit.
Blackpool are 6/1 to be promoted this season but those odds could shorten if Phillips can hit the goal trail.
2. Kevin Nolan (West Ham)
Nolan might have been around for what seems like forever but he is only 29 and, based on what he did for Newcastle last season, still looks to have a lot of life left in him.
Having turned down the chance to stay at St James’ Park the former Bolton ace opted to link up with old Trotters boss Sam Allardyce in east London.
While the Hammers are in big financial trouble they are still likely to be a force to be reckoned with under Alladryce, with totesport making them 4/1 to win the Championship.
Nolan should play a big part in their inevitable promotion push and don’t be surprised to hear Newcastle fans bemoaning his departure if their season goes wrong.
3. Will Hoskins/Craig Mackail-Smith (Brighton)
Brighton’s main strikers for next season might not have much experience between them at Championship level but they are proven goalscorers, Hoskins having already found the net in pre-season.
The 25-year-old scored 20 goals in 44 appearance for Bristol Rovers last season, while Mackail-Smith scored 35 goals in 57 games for Peterborough.
Brighton’s signing of Mackail-Smith represents a coup for the Seagulls and while they are unlikely to push for promotion, expect these two to score enough to make secure they finish mid-table.
4. Matt Mills (Leicester)
The big centre-half had a storming season for Reading last year and was one of the main reasons they came within 90 minutes of promotion.
While Sven Goran Eriksson is likely to sign bigger names than Mills before the transfer window shuts, he looks like the kind of player who will become a fans’ favourite, as he did at the Madejski.
The Foxes are 13/8 to be promoted and the way they are spending cash it looks to be just a matter of time before they return to the Premier League.
5. Jack Cork (Southampton)
The Saints may have been a bit quieter than most were expecting on the transfer front but in Cork they have at least made one good signing.
The 22-year-old has spent plenty of time out on loan in the Championship and has shown that bit of quality needed in the middle of the park.
If Nigel Adkins can recruit a few more quality players than there is no reason why the Saints can’t do a Norwich and secure back-to-back promotions, especially with Rickie Lambert up front.
Southampton are 11/2 to be promoted.
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