Watford’s Tom Cleverley name checks Norwich City, Sheffield United and Burnley in Championship prediction | OneFootball

The Championship is a competitive league and this season so far it looks set to provide us with entertainment yet again.

There are a number of strong sides in the division and although Sheffield United started the campaign taking top spot, a dip in form has seen Blackburn Rovers capitalise to take number one position whilst newly relegated Burnley sit second in the table.

Fellow relegated side Norwich City currently sit fifth in the table whilst Watford disappointingly sit in 13th having recently appointed Slaven Bilic in place of the sacked Rob Edwards.

Hornets captain Tom Cleverley is no stranger to the second tier having been part of the side that gained promotion to the top flight in the 2020/21 season however this season he has made just three appearances so far due to injury.

Watford will be keen to pick up form and climb back up the table but looking at who else could be up there this season, the 33-year-old told Sky Bet: “There are some teams overperforming in the Championship currently, but you’d have to back Norwich City as promotion rivals, from their experience of being promoted so many times. Sheffield United as well – that’s a team that has been together over several years and have a good way of playing.

“For me, the best team we’ve played so far – even though we won – would be Burnley. They are well organised, and at the moment they seem to be letting leads slip, but they are a brilliant team.”

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The Verdict:

You can already see that the Watford captain knows it’s a tough league with plenty of options to look at as being title contenders this year.

Norwich are in a slight spell of poor form but we know they are a team with plenty of talent in their squad and you would definitely expect to see them at the top end of the table at the end of the season.

Sheffield United have started the season off really well and as Cleverley says, they are a side that has progressed under Paul Heckingbottom and will therefore feel they now have the momentum to push for a top spot.

You would expect Burnley to be up there too as another newly relegated side but it’s interesting that the player feels they are the best team Watford have played so far.

There is plenty of work to be at Cleverley’s own club and Bilic will need to hope he can guide his team up the table at a fair pace if they are to be part of the promotion conversation this season.