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The Championship Chancers XI...

It's too easy to pick Dave Kitson or Sebastian Larsson, so we've gone for a Championship XI that haven't had a fair crack at the Premier League yet. Are they worth a Premier League chance?

GOALKEEPER: Adriano Basso (Bristol City)

At 33 he's hardly one for the future, but he is the chief reason why Bristol City topped the table for a heady period last season. Let's face it, it wasn't their goals that took them there. If you're a Premier League manager looking for a relatively cheap back-up keeper, then you should check out the Brazilian. He's rather good.

RIGHT-BACK: Frankie Simek (Sheffield Wednesday)

A product of the Arsenal Academy, the American is a powerful force on the right side of the Owls' defence, with foraging runs followed by ridiculous recoveries. Out for the majority of last season through injury and was sorely missed. Put it this way, he's a great deal better than Justin Hoyte.

CENTRE-BACK: Mark Beevers (Sheffield Wednesday)

He's only 18 but he's at least as good as any Owl will tell you. Much, much better than the likes of Curtis Davies at that or any other age, Beevers is tall, quick, intelligent and already attracting interest from the likes of Everton and Chelsea. For £2m, buy him now and then loan him back to the Championship. He'll cost a fair bit more two years down the line if you let the likes of Wolves get there first.

CENTRE-BACK: Roger Johnson (Cardiff City)

One of the undoubted stars of Cardiff's cup run, Johnson is a dominating centre-half who seems to attract the ball to his forehead, whether it's in his own penalty area or the opposition's. Middlesbrough were linked with a bid last season and he would certainly fit in relatively easily to the mid-reaches of the Premier League. Much more versatile and mobile than someone like Danny Shittu.

LEFT-BACK: Daniel Fox (Coventry City)

Already an England Under-21 international, Fox was at least partly responsible for the revival of Coventry City last season. The signings of him and Scott Dann shored up the Sky Blues defence and of 18 games Fox played in the Championship, seven ended in clean sheets. He began his career at Everton and at the age of 22, he could well get another crack at the big league.

RIGHT MIDFIELD: Jon Walters (Ipswich Town)

Some players get better as they age and that's certainly true for Walters, who didn't do enough to impress either Blackburn or Bolton when he was on their books. Or indeed Hull. But it's a sign of what Jim Magilton has done with Walters - principally in making him more versatile - that either Bolton or Hull should be glad of his services now.

CENTRAL MIDFIELD: Zheng Zhi (Charlton)

Ridiculously versatile and hard-working, Zizi would be an asset to any Premier League squad. Perhaps not a regular starter, but someone who can do a decent job in just about any position on the pitch. Certainly if I were Roy Hodgson I would follow up my original interest - you get a decent defender, midfielder and striker rolled into one.

CENTRAL MIDFIELD: Brian Howard (Barnsley)

Fantastically inventive player who clearly suffers from being on the chubby side, which is probably what puts off Premier League scouts. He has that rare vision - well, rare in the Championship - that means he can create something out of nothing, and a Goal of the Season candidate once a month. A luxury certainly, but possibly a luxury worth having in a five-man midfield.

LEFT MIDFIELD: Michael Kightley (Wolves)

A persistent ankle injury saw him miss swathes of last season but believe me, this boy is good. Like a lot of players who got their big chance late, he has a hunger often missing from pampered Premier League professionals. He's quick, direct and will eventually end up in the Premier League. Someone like David Moyes should make that sooner rather than later.

STRIKER: Sylvan Ebanks-Blake (Wolves)

As well as ending up in court for hitting a bouncer over the head with his girlfriend's bag, Sylvan Ebanks-Blake also became the Championship's leading scorer. It might sound like an insult to compare him to Paul Dickov, but he's that kind of player - a bit of a pain in the arse and deceptively good in the air. Everton have been sniffing around and it's fair to say that the lad is not much worse than Andy Johnson.

STRIKER: Jason Scotland (Swansea City)

Never even scored a goal in the Championship but still a better striker than anything Phil Brown has at Hull, for example. Had a phenomenal scoring record with both St Johnstone and Swansea and has proved to be the best £25,000 any club spent last summer. Given the choice between him and Craig Fagan, I know which one I would choose.

Sarah Winterburn