A brand new feature for TEB where we will be picking our top six of any particular subject that happens to take our fancy every once in a while.
We kick off the feature with a look at six Championship players that we think could make the step up to the Premier League ahead of the January transfer window which is getting ever closer. The lower leagues are a breeding ground for talent as we can vouch for so it would be foolish for even the top clubs to ignore what goes on below the top division.
Curtis Davies
Club: Hull City – Position: central defender – Statistics: 12 appearances – 1108 minutes of football – 1 goal – 2 yellow cards – average rating 7.65
The Hull City centre back is an excellent age for his position. It seems as though he has been around for a while now but at 30 years young, Davies still has plenty to offer a top flight team. We only have to look at Damien Delaney to see that age is just a number.
A young Davies started his career at Wimbledon before moving to the Luton Town youth set up. He made his first team debut in 2003 and after making over fifty appearances for the Hatters, West Bromwich Albion came calling and signed him in 2005. A loan spell at fellow midlands club Aston Villa turned into a permanent deal in 2008 but it was a short stint, making a loan move to Leicester City ahead of a move to Birmingham City in 2011. Even though he has had his fair share of injuries, the London born defender has made three appearances for the England under 21 side.
Oliver Norwood
Club: Reading – Position: central midfielder – Statistics: 16 appearances – 1419 minutes of football – 2 goals – 1 assist – 3 yellow cards – average rating 7.47
The former Manchester United academy player has impressed in a Royals side that has been inconsistent at best so far this season. The central midfielder never made a first team appearance at Old Trafford even after loan spells at Carlisle United, Scunthorpe United and Coventry City.
The twenty-four year old signed for Huddersfield Town in 2012 and after eighty appearances and scoring eight goals, moved to the Madejski Stadium in 2014. The Burnley born player was recognised at under 16 and under 17 level for England but opted for Northern Ireland where he has made a little under thirty full international appearances.
Shane Duffy
Club: Blackburn Rovers, Position: central defender, Statistics: 16 appearances, 1440 minutes of football, 1 goal, 4 yellow cards, average rating 7.33
Currently at Blackburn Rovers, the 23 year old Republic of Ireland international began his career at Foyle Harps before being picked up by the youth set up at Everton. He managed five full appearances for the Goodison Park club as well as loan spells at Burnley, Scunthorpe United and Yeovil Town before moving to Ewood Park in 2014. He actually appeared at youth level for Northern Ireland, but the Derry born defender is not the first player to change allegiance to the Republic of Ireland, managing one full international cap to date.
Ahmed Elmohamady
Club: Hull City, Position: full back/winger, Statistics: 14 appearances, 1280 minutes of football, 2 goals, 4 assists, average rating 7.28
The Egyptian international recently proved his worth in the Premier League with Hull City and the right sided player is perhaps worthy of another shot at the top division. A career that began at Ghazi El Mahalla took in ENPPI and Sunderland before moving to the KC Stadium in 2012, first in a loan deal, then signing permanently in 2013. The twenty-eight year old is an experienced international having made more than seventy appearances for Egypt.
Andre Gray
Club: Burnley, Position: striker, Statistics: 11 appearances, 883 minutes of football, 8 goals, 2 assists, average rating 7.24
A few eyebrows were raised when Burnley shelled out around £6 million few million for the former Brentford striker but he has lived up to the price tag so far this season by being among the goals. The twenty-four year old began his career at Wolverhampton Wanderers before switching to the youth set up at Shrewsbury Town.
Born in Wolverhampton, Gray made his first team debut for Shrewsbury in 2009 but could not hold down a starting spot even after loan spells at Telford United and Hinkley Town. He signed for Hinckley on a permanent basis in 2010 and made scoring twenty-nine goals in over sixty appearances. A loan spell at Luton Town followed in 2012 before signing for them permanently where his scoring form continued with forty-seven goals in a little under ninety appearances. Brentford came calling in 2014 where he carried on impressing which encouraged Burnley to chase his signature.
Nick Blackman
Club: Reading, Position: Attacking midfielder/striker, Statistics: 14 appearances, 1257 minutes of football, 9 goals, 2 assists, 2 yellow cards, average rating 7.42
The former Sheffield United striker was linked with Palace before signing for Reading in 2013. He is currently joint top scorer in the Championship along with Fulham’s Ross McCormack.
His career began in the youth team at Macclesfield Town, making his senior debut in 2006. He signed for Blackburn Rovers in 2009 but failed to seal a starting spot at Ewood Park so spent time out on loan at Blackpool, Oldham Athletic, Motherwell and Aberdeen before moving on to Sheffield United. After a successful year at Bramall Lane, Reading came calling for his services where he has so far made around ninety appearances and scored sixteen goals.
