Sky Sports' Don Goodman names Coventry City and Middlesbrough among Championship play-off prediction | OneFootball

The Sky Sports pundit has outlined his promotion favourites

Highlights

Don Goodman has predicted all three newly-relegated Championship sides alongside Coventry City and Middlesbrough to compete for promotion to the Premier League in the upcoming 2024/25 campaign.

Burnley, Luton Town and Sheffield United appear to be in good health having each sustained the nucleus of their promotion-winning sides two seasons prior. Indeed, Scott Parker, Rob Edwards and Chris Wilder share a combined four Premier League promotions and they'll only be looking to strengthen their credentials even more next season.

However, Coventry and Boro have also been tipped for promotion contention, having sustainably developed strong squads over the last couple of years.

Don Goodman's Championship top-six prediction

Although the sheer unpredictability of the Championship renders it quite possibly the hardest division to predict, the Sky Sports pundit has nonetheless tipped all five sides to finish in the top-six ahead of Friday evening's curtain-raisers.

"Those challenging at the top, you've got to say it will be the three relegated clubs because most of the time that happens and certainly at least two of them, are up there," Goodman explained to FLW (via Grosvenor Sport).

"So Burnley have got a massive squad, which is going to take some managing. I mean, you look at Nottingham Forest in the Premier League and Steve Cooper was pulling his hair out because he had literally too many players.

"That is difficult to manage and organise on a daily basis, just in terms of training and keeping everybody motivated and included.

"So I would expect a lot of players to leave Burnley as they went heavy across the last couple of summers and they have some real quality. They have the likes Luca Koleosho, Lyle Foster and Wilson Odobert.

"They’ve got players that were there when they won the league with over 100 points. Scott Parker is a possession-based coach and he's inherited a very technically gifted group of players that will be able to play possession-based football. So I would expect Burnley to be up there.

"Luton have lost Ross Barkley and Gabe Osho so far, but they're in a great place. I know they've got injuries to deal with at the minute but, for this level, they've got massive ability in the likes of Alfie Doughty. I'm surprised a Premier League club hasn't gone and signed him. I just think he's excellent.

"The two boys up front are going to run riot in certain games and be unplayable, Carlton Morris and Elijah Adebayo. Rob Edwards, I think is the key. He's their biggest asset for me. I've got no doubt they'll be pushing.

"Sheffield United were the one that I was really worried about. I wasn't really sure what to expect. Takeover, or no takeover with a disinterested owner. Nearly all of the players that were there when they got promoted under Chris Wilder have gone now. This is new.

"You wondered about their ambition, but they’ve brought in Kiefer Moore, Callum O'Hare, Harrison Burrows of Peterborough and Sam McCallum, these are high-quality Championship players.

"If they can keep Kieffer Moore and Callum O’Hare fit, then they're going to be a handful at that top end of the pitch. Jamie Shackleton's another one.

"As the transfer window has gone along and you see the likes of Anel Ahmedhodzic remain there, and then you look at the youngsters in Olilie Arblaster and there's Andre Brooks as well, then all of a sudden the picture just looks that little brighter for Sheffield United than I thought it might have been."

The recently-relegated trio each possess parachute payments, promotion-winning players and managers alike and respective squads of disproportion compared to the majority of their divisional rivals. However, Goodman has predicted Coventry and Middlesbrough to challenge the Championship's riches and launch their own respective promotion bids after missing out on play-off contention last time out.

"They’ve signed Jack Rodoni and Ephron Mason-Clarke and they’ve nicked Brandon Thomas-Asante from West Brom.

"When you add those players to Hadji Wright and Ellis Simms with that midfield of Ben Sheaf, Josh Eccles and Victor Torp, you've got a serious attacking team which will, when they have the ball, cause teams problems. I've got no doubt.

"The area last season that I thought looked a little fragile was defensively. They let 59 goals in and that cannot happen if they want to challenge at the top of the table. So I would be expecting them to recruit in that area of the pitch, but I think they'll have a good season and again they'll be challenging. There's no doubt.

"Middlesbrough were the other team I fancy for a top-six spot. They fell four points short and finished eighth last season because they were seriously inconsistent.

"They got off to a poor start, with no win in the first seven, so that could be key for Michael Carrick. They've done some shrewd business.

"Those are the five clubs that I expect will be challenging at the top. I'd be surprised if those five aren't there or thereabouts come May and the end of the season."

Don Goodman's Leeds United prediction

Separately, Goodman has also predicted Leeds United to bounce back from last season's heartbreak in the Championship play-off final to win the league, despite having lost both Archie Gray and Crycensio Summerville across the current window.

Goodman said: "I've got to go with Leeds United as champions.

"I don't think that the three relegated teams are as strong as Leicester, Southampton and Leeds were last season. Again, we've still got to wait and see what the exact makeup of the squads is once the transfer window slams shut.

"I've stuck with Leeds because, despite losing the playoffs, they should look at the likes of Sheffield United, Bournemouth, and Brentford and themselves of previous years, who all bounced back and got promoted following play-off heartbreak.

"I know they've lost Archie Gray, they've lost Glen Kamara and Crycensio Summerville, but I like what they've done bringing in Jaden Bogle.

"I like Joe Rothwell as he’s a different type of midfielder and I would probably expect more signings yet to come through the door. Signings of quality.

"In Daniel Farke, you've got somebody who's been there, seen it, got the t-shirt and nearly pulled it off last season. So I would have to say Leeds United to win the Championship."

Don Goodman's Championship predictions could come off

It's a common theme to see some quite simply outlandish pre-season predictions backfire to humiliating effect once the campaign really heads underway, which will likely be no different when looking back in the months to come.

However, Goodman's predictions are fair, balanced and substantiated. There does tend to be at least one newly-relegated side who somewhat flatter to deceive, but this season's trio currently appear well-placed to plot immediate top-flight returns.

Whether such ambitions will materialise, of course, can only be found out in good time, yet it feels difficult to discount Burnley, Luton and the Blades from promotion contention.

The same appears true for the Sky Blues and Boro, who both place significant trust in their bosses, have clear and sustainable strategies and boast young, yet extremely talented squads of players that will doubtlessly improve in the upcoming season and years to come. They've both enjoyed strong transfer windows too, with Rudoni and Boro's Aidan Morris looking like strong swoops in the middle of the park.

Meanwhile, Leeds are undoubtedly among the favourites to lift the Championship title come May, although that will likely be dictated by how well they replace their outgoings. Summerville is the obvious one who Leeds must replace - and replace well. Jonathan Rowe could represent exactly that.