With the recent news that clubs should be returning to training soon, I thought I would look at some of the Championship’s top performers so far this season, so you can keep an eye on them when the season starts up again. Without further ado here is my XI.
Goalkeeper - Marek Rodak - Fulham - Slovakian - 23 years old - 24 apps
Whilst this could be seen as a biased view, Rodak has been excellent between the sticks this season and made it into the EA sports TOTSSF. He’s just signed a new long term contract with Fulham and his stats are unbelievable. He’s played 24 games in the Championship, keeping 10 clean sheets, and also pulling off great 1 on 1 saves, including one against Aston Villa in the cup. He’s only young so if he can keep this form up, and with a bit more experience, he can become a world class keeper.
Right Back - Matty Cash - Nottingham Forest - English - 22 years old - 36 apps
Matty Cash came out of last season a midfielder, but into this season a full back, and he’s shown what he’s capable of. Forest have always been in and around the playoffs, but this season they have looked very dangerous. Matty Cash has been arguably their stand out player, which can be hard to do at full back. He’s scored 4 goals and got 3 assists whilst playing 92% of the minutes available to him. At only 22 years old I can see high demand for him from big Premier League clubs.
Centre Back - Ben White - Leeds - English - 22 - 37 apps
Ben White is on loan at Leeds from Brighton this season and has shone. He’s played every single minute available to him and has controlled the Leeds defence. White has struggled to find a home, going out on loan for the last 3 seasons. However with the form he has shown so far this season Brighton may want him in their team, Leeds may want to get him permanently, or another club could come and snatch him up.
Centre Back - Semi Ajayi - West Brom - Nigerian - 26 - 35 apps
Semi Ajayi is now 26, in his prime age, however I can only see him getting better from here. After moving from Rotherham to West Brom he has cemented his place in the lineup and played 95% of minutes this season. The towering centre back has struggled to find a club that he can stay at, however I think he could stay at West Brom for a long time following this season's performances.
Left Back - Stuart Dallas - Leeds - Northern Irish - 29 - 37 apps
Whilst Stuart Dallas has played in four different positions this season, he has played mostly at Left back, and it’s hard not to include him. Although his stats on paper may not look like Joe Bryan’s, Dallas has started every single game this season and has been Mr. Consistent for a while. Dallas is a real leader for Leeds and has always been lurking around the Championship level. Although Dallas may be 29, if Leeds go up he may be able to make a name for himself in the Premier League for the last few seasons of his career.
Midfielder - Kalvin Phillips - Leeds - English - 24 - 31 apps
Kalvin Phillips has looked like one of the best players in the Championship this season. Phillips, I’m sure, has had plenty of chances to move away from Leeds but has stayed through and through. He is starting to look like a class midfielder that can definitely make it in the Premier League. If Phillips keeps up the fighting mentality he has, whilst also toning down his aggression a bit, being only 24 he could have a bright England career ahead of him.
Midfielder - Matheus Periera - West Brom - Brazilian - 24 - 33 apps
Periera is arguably the best technical player in the EFL. He’s made 33 appearances this season for West Brom, and has the most assists in the league. He has brought some light into the West Brom team as they haven’t always been known as the most technical side. Periera is on loan at West Brom from Sporting and has struggled to break into the Sporting side. However after this season I can see a high demand for Periera, whether that will be from another club or from West Brom only time will tell.
Midfielder - Eberechi Eze - QPR - English - 21 - 37 apps
Eze is the youngest player in this team and has one of the brightest futures in this list. This season Eze has grabbed a lot of attention from clubs in the Premier League due to his stand out performances, scoring 12 and assisting 8 in 37 appearances. A lot of fans have said Eze is the best player in the Championship this season, and whilst he’s been great this is definitely debatable. However Eze can only get better from here, but a move away from QPR may have to take place.
Midfielder / attacker - Jed Wallace - Millwall - English - 26 - 35 apps
Watching Jed Wallace this season has been nothing but a delight. The skillful winger has been a big part of taking Millwall up to 8th place and only two points outside the playoffs. He’s scored 10 goals and got 8 assists for Millwall so far this season in which is his best season for the club. Wallace still has time to get up to his prime and can definitely make it at a low premier league club, or stay with Millwall and get them into the Premier League.
Attacker - Ollie Watkins - Brentford - English - 24 - 37 apps
Ollie Watkins has played every single minute available to him this season, and has made Brentford a dangerous side. He’s the second top scorer in the league with 22 goals. Whilst last season Watkins played most games on the wings, this season he has been converted to a clinical centre forward, and has definitely taken his chances. Brentford still have a great chance of going up this season and Watkins can show what he’s made of in the Prem, and maybe get an England call up in the near future.
Attacker - Aleksandar Mitrovic - Fulham - Serbian - 25 - 34 apps
Mitrovic has been the best player in the championship in my opinion. Whilst he may not be as technical as Periera, or as fast as Watkins, the Serbian has shown that he is premier league quality. Mitrovic is the top scorer in the league with 23 goals, despiting missing a few games through injury and suspension. Although the big striker may look in his late 20’s he is only 25. He still has time to settle himself in the premier league as one of the top strikers. Mitrovic has been crucial for Fulham, and could be their driving force to push back up into the Premier League.
Close calls:
Goalkeeper: Samba - been great for Nottingham forest and made some crucial saves.
Full Back: Joe Bryan - whilst not being the most consistent defender, Bryan has quite a few assist under his belt for Fulham.
Centre Back: Shaun Hutchinson - would love to say Hector but he hasn’t played just enough games yet but Hutchinson has been crucial to why Millwall are so high up the table this season.
Midfielder: Tom Cairney - Started off the season with some crucial goals, and lost it a bit towards Christmas / new year. However he has recently played like a real leader and looks like he still has the spark.
Winger / Attacker: Said Benrahma - It was a toss up between Benrahma and Wallace for the starting XI but Wallace just edges it. Benrahma has been so skillful and creative for Brentford this season.
Winger / Attacker: Jarrod Bowen - Despite leaving in January, Bowen is still one of the best players the Championship saw this season, and him leaving has shown the impact it has on Hull, just look at the table…
Striker: Karlan Grant - Whilst Huddersfield have really struggled this season, Grant has been a bit of a lifeline. At only 22, the young prospect is one of the little things Huddersfield can look forward to next season.
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