Adrian Durham’s Championship players to watch

Adrian Durham runs us through his players to watch ahead of the npower Championship kick off!

Kris Boyd – Middlesbrough
Clearly a goalscorer in the SPL but has he got the work ethic that will be required in the Championship? And can he strike up a partnership with an ex-Celtic man Scott McDonald.

Durham says – He’ll be a minor hit, and we’ll realise just how easy it is in the SPL

Chris Dagnall / Bobby Grant – Scunthorpe
Dagnall scored a lot of goals to help Rochdale to promotion last season while Grant, who happens to be a good friend of Steven Gerrard, was starman for an Accrington side who kept play off hopes alive until the final few weeks of the season. These two shone in League 2, so I’m fascinated to see how they get on. Scunny’s last pick up from the lower leagues was Gary Hooper, who they sold this summer to Celtic for £2.4m.

Durham says – These two will show some quality, but maybe the two division leap will be too much.

Nicky Maynard – Bristol City
He knows where the back of the net is and by all accounts he’s a really good lad as well. Steve Coppell is lucky to have inherited him. He’s a finisher, sometimes spectacularly as well.

Durham says – If he stays fit he could be the division’s top scorer

Gylfi Sigurdsson – Reading
If you want to see a player run with the ball go and watch Sigurdsson. A product of the youth academy so manager Brian McDermott knows exactly what he can do. And he will do it this season.

Durham says – He can be a star in this division.

Connor Wickham – Ipswich
Strong and fast, a terrific finisher he reminds me so much of a young Alan Shearer. People will point to a poor goals return last season but Shearer didn’t bang goals in regularly at Southampton. And he’s not 18 until next March.

Durham says – If Roy Keane manages him correctly Wickham will be a top top player

Lucas Jutkiewicz – Coventry
Check out his scorcher last season for Motherwell in the 6-6 draw with Hibs.

It’s a finish we all dream of, few can pull it off. He’s cost Cov a million, and maybe a decent run in the first team will bring the best out of him.

Durham says – he’s got something, but he’ll have to show it at Coventry this season

Sanchez Watt – Leeds
FA Youth Cup winner with Arsenal in 2009, the 19-year-old will be on loan at Elland Road this season and I really want to see him do his stuff in the first team. A left-footer, he is quick and clever and needs to come of age. A spell at Leeds last season showed Simon Grayson he could be useful in the Championship.

Durham says – If he gets a first team run he will shine, and he could be an England world cup squad member 2014.

Tom Kennedy – Leicester
The nephew of Liverpool legend Alan Kennedy, Tom is also a left back, and he’s also a top penalty taker. He’s 25 now, he’s just won promotion with Rochdale, so it’s a great chance for him and he needs to take it. If they meet Bury in the cup though I suggest he doesn’t celebrate if he scores the winner!

Durham says – Good player, hope he can cope defensively in this division.

Adel Taraabt – QPR
Another one who can run with the ball and I am stunned Spurs have let him go for a million. If he can learn when to pass he could be brilliant. Interesting to see if Neil Warnock is the man to improve a player with genuine talent.

Durham says – With the right guidance he has genius potential