Lee Hendrie reveals which Birmingham City, Middlesbrough and Sheffield United stars you need to watch out for | OneFootball

Lee Hendrie has revealed which players he believes could be ones to watch in the Championship next season.

Pundit Lee Hendrie believes Birmingham City's Tommy Doyle, Middlesbrough's Finn Azaz and Sheffield United's Gustavo Hamer could all be ones to watch in the Championship next season.

In a deal that was first exclusively revealed by FLW last month, Birmingham fought off competition from Sunderland and Wrexham to sign Doyle on a season-long loan from Wolverhampton Wanderers, and the Midlands outfit will be obligated to buy the midfielder on a permanent basis next summer if they achieve their goal of promotion to the Premier League.

It was a disappointing campaign for Middlesbrough last season as they finished 10th in the table, but Azaz was one of their better performers, and after hitting double figures for both goals and assists, he will be hoping to maintain that form in the year ahead.

Sheffield United midfielder Hamer scored 10 goals and provided eight assists in 46 games last season to help his side reach the play-off final, but after missing out on promotion, the Blades could be vulnerable to losing the 28-year-old, who is reportedly attracting interest from Dutch giants PSV Eindhoven.

As well as Doyle, Azaz and Hamer, Hendrie also named Louie Barry as a player to keep an eye on next season, with the Aston Villa forward believed to be closing in on a loan move to Sheffield United, where he will reunite with his former Hull City manager Ruben Selles.

Lee Hendrie drops exciting claim involving Birmingham City, Middlesbrough and Sheffield United

Speaking exclusively to Football League World, Hendrie admitted that there will be pressure on Doyle, Azaz, Hamer and Barry to deliver for their respective clubs next season, but he backed all four players to be among the standout performers in the Championship.

"When you're looking at players, you look at the capture of Tommy Doyle for Birmingham City, and I think he could really be a standout player this season for them and in the Championship," Hendrie said.

"I think he's got a hell of a lot to prove, but he's a very good player, so I think he'll be one that teams are looking at as one who can dictate games.

"Finn Azaz was outstanding last season, he showed that he could make the step up, and his goals and assists were really important for Middlesbrough.

"He was heavily linked with a move away, but I do feel that he will have a really key season and has something to prove as well.

"Another one I was going to throw in the mix is Gustavo Hamer, who, for me, was the Championship player of the season.

"Whether he is still going to be there is another matter, but he is one that you think should take the Championship by storm.

"I'd also throw Louie Barry in there.

"I think he's got so much to prove, and if he is going to Sheffield United, he could certainly prove a massive point this season in the Championship."

With Birmingham, Middlesbrough and Sheffield United all expected to be in promotion contention in the Championship next season, it is difficult to disagree with Hendrie that Doyle, Azaz, Hamer and Barry will all be players to watch.

However, after Blues owner Tom Wagner openly stated that the club are targeting back-to-back promotions next season, and with their vast financial resources and the high-profile involvement of Tom Brady on the board, there may be more eyes focusing on events at St Andrew's @ Knighthead Park.

While his arrival perhaps did not attract the same publicity as that of Kyogo Furuhashi, who joined the club from Rennes in a deal worth up to £10 million, Doyle is arguably the signing of the summer so far in the Championship, and having previously achieved automatic promotion from the division with Sheffield United, he will be looking to replicate that achievement with Birmingham next season.