Championship opinion: 5 stars who deserved to be in the team of the season

With just eight games left in the season, the Championship has announced the team of the season and there are a few shocks, to say the least. Current league leaders Norwich City have the most number of players in the team of the season, with Teemu Pukki, Max Aarons and Jamaal Lewis making the cut.

Leeds United have both Liam Cooper and Kalvin Philipps, while Sheffield United saw Billy Sharp and Oliver Norwood make the cut. Barring that, Darren Randolph, who leads the race for the Golden Glove, and Che Adams made the final list.

However, that being said there are a few other players who deserved to be included in the team.

Ben Godfrey

The 21-year-old has been good in the last few seasons. He arrived at Norwich in the summer of 2016 and spent last year on loan at Shrewsbury Town, where he honed his skills.

But it was only this season that Godfrey found his way into the first-team and he hasn’t looked back, making 22 appearances in the Championship. It shows his rise and why the young centre-back should have made the cut.

Said Benrahma

Nine goals and twelve assists to his name and yet, Said Benrahma couldn’t make the Championship team of the season. That was among the biggest surprises when the list was realised, simply because the 23-year-old has been downright incredible.

A lethal combination of speed and creativity, the young forward has excelled in his first Championship season, arriving in the summer from OGC Nice.

The transition from the Ligue 1 to an English league isn’t always an easy one but Benrahma has done it with ease.

Pablo Hernandez

33 years old and the Spaniard has played an immense role this season for Leeds United. So far, Hernandez has contributed to 21 goals, scoring 10 of them. And all of it has come in the Championship in just 30 appearances.

The fact that he is 33 years old has never stopped the Spaniard, and he’s continued to flourish, playing wonderful football under Marcelo Bielsa.

Sure, with Leeds United’s current decline, things have changed but that doesn’t change the fact that Hernandez has been the Whites’ most creative player.

Tammy Abraham

He’s played 90% of the minutes this season and has made the most of his chances. In his third loan spell away from Chelsea, the 21-year-old has finally found his footing. So far, he’s managed 21 goals and 2 assists in 31 appearances.

A crucial cog in Aston Villa’s machine, the Lions would be nowhere in the Championship without Abraham.

He’s scored 31% of their goals this season and is their top scorer by a large margin. Central midfielder Conor Hourihane is Aston Villa’s second top scorer with six goals.

It shows the impact the young centre-forward has made and more importantly, how much he has grown since his struggles at Swansea.

John McGinn

Four goals and eight assists show the incredible amount of effort the 24 year old has put into his season with Aston Villa so far. He arrived only in the summer of 2018 and has since made an incredible impact.

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Arriving from the Scottish Premiership did help McGinn’s transition but it’s his work ethic and stamina that has endured him to the Villa fans. It’s also why he should have made the cut over a few others in the team of the season.