3 Championship Players Who Are Ready For The Step Up To The Premier League
Although the second tier leagues of most countries aren’t exactly a breeding ground for future European stars, the Championship in England actually does have a reputation for producing top end talent and that shows no sign of abating.
Here are three current Championship players, none of whom have already played top level football, who look certain to grace the Premier League very soon one way or the other:
James Maddison (Norwich City)
The attack-minded midfielder has been tremendous this season and it’s not all about stats (though most of his are impressive) either as even visually he just looks every inch a Premier League player.
The 21-year-old has contributed to a goal every 176 minutes in the Championship, this from a player playing 24 times in an attacking midfield position, four times in a slightly deeper role and twice coming on from the bench. Maddison could be the Gerrard/Lampard of the next generation for England and certainly has a better attitude than Dele Alli so watch out for him being a regular performer at the top-level.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D-4Di7UFHuw
Ryan Sessegnon (Fulham)
The forward, because that’s what he is, has been truly outstanding when given his head and not told to play at left-back and one can only hope he doesn’t end up at Tottenham under Mauricio Pochettino.
I write this only as the Spurs manager has stated publicly that he saw Sessegnon as a replacement for Danny Rose at left-back but this would serve only to hold back the exciting 17-year-old. Having played 19 games at left-back with an average rating of 6.82 out of ten, Sessegnon has more recently been allowed to play further forward and then his stats change dramatically.
12 games in forward positions have led to 10 goals and 2 assists along with an average rating of 7.43 in the Championship and this alone marks him out as a Premier League class of player. I’m not certain where he’ll end up, though I do know he’d fit right in at Liverpool.
Joe Bryan (Bristol City)
The Bristol City left-back-cum-winger has been great for his side, both in the Championship and in the cups when showing up really well against both Manchester clubs.
His terrific goal against Manchester United, in fact, is something which sticks in the memory and is easy to recall but he has been about a lot more than that and is clearly ready to mix it with the big boys.
Just by way of comparison; I believe if Premier League bosses were offered Bryan or Charlie Taylor who was in a similar position last season at Leeds, the majority would take the Bristol City star.