The 2022/23 EFL Championship season kicks off on Friday, July 29. With just over a week until the new campaign gets underway, let’s take a look at the favourites for promotion.
Naturally, the three sides who suffered Premier League relegation last season are expected to bounce straight back. But the Championship is stacked with top-class teams hoping to get to the big time.
It’s time to take a closer look at the five main promotions favourites.
• Norwich City
Norwich City have gained a reputation as a yo-yo club in recent years. Although they have secured four promotions in the past 12 seasons, they have also endured four relegations.
The Canaries dominated the Championship in 2020/21, picking up a whopping 97 points on their way to clinching the title. But have they got what it takes to bounce back at the first time of asking?
• Watford
Like Norwich, Watford have experienced a topsy-turvy decade or so. Between 2015/16 and 2019/20, the Hornets spent five consecutive seasons in the Premier League. But they have since suffered two relegations in the last three seasons.
Watford have plenty of top players, including Ismaila Sarr, Emmanuel Dennis and Joao Pedro. If they can keep hold of their stars, they will give themselves an excellent chance of returning to the top flight.
• Burnley
Burnley enjoyed six successive seasons in the Premier League between 2016/17 and 2021/22. However, the Lancashire outfit finally dropped into the second tier following a difficult campaign.
The Clarets parted ways with long-standing manager Sean Dyche back in April, leading to the appointment of Vincent Kompany in June. Can the Manchester City legend take Burnley back to the Premier League?
• West Bromwich Albion
After making an impressive start to the previous campaign, West Brom looked set to challenge for promotion. But they fell off a cliff during the second half of the season, finishing eight points outside the top six in eleventh place.
Still, the Baggies invariably find themselves among the promotion favourites at the beginning of every Championship season. Led by experienced manager Steve Bruce, West Brom should compete for a top-two finish in 2022/23.
• Sheffield United
Sheffield United finished fifth last term but ultimately fell to Nottingham Forest in the play-offs. Needless to say, they will be desperate to go one better this time around.
After gaining promotion in 2019, the Blades secured a hugely impressive ninth-place finish in their comeback top-flight campaign. However, they were relegated in 2021. Have they got the mettle to go again?
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