STEVE EVANS
The experienced boss picks out his top Championship players this term
THE Championship player of the year nominations will be out soon and all of us will have opinions on who should be recognised. Having managed in the division with Leeds and Rotherham, I watch as much Championship football as possible and the standard this season is outstanding.
Two of my four nominations are plying their trade scoring goals at the top end of the Championship.
Teemu Pukki at Norwich City has 24 goals and nine assists, an outstanding return - and there are still eight games to play.
Nor can I leave out the goal machine that is Billy Sharp at Sheffield United. A tally so far of 22 goals and three assists, I can only applaud the evergreen striker.
My third candidate is the rock of Leeds United, central defender Pontus Jansson. The Swedish international is someone I recommended to the club’s owner in my time and he has proved to be a great signing.
Brilliant
His partnership with captain Liam Cooper is very strong, basically because they are two brilliant players.
My final nomination is striker Che Adams at Birmingham City. Twenty-one goals and three assists is superb but there is much more to come from this young man. For me, the 22-year-old has everything in his armoury to be a Premier League player next season.
Of course, when it comes to end of season honours, the real prizes go not to individual players but to the clubs who win promotion.
The season has entered what Sir Alex Ferguson called “squeaky bum time” as clubs all around the country fight to finish the job.
Who will triumph in the race for automatic promotion? It’s tight across all three divisions but this is what I think will be the finishing order when the twitching has stopped.
In the Championship I am going for Norwich City and Sheffield United, just edging out my old club Leeds.
In League One, I’m tipping Luton Town and Sunderland, who are currently third but with a game in hand over Barnsley.
And as for League Two, it will be Danny Cowley’s Lincoln City, Ryan Lowe’s Bury and Mansfield Town - who I am absolutely delighted to see fighting for promotion.
Opportunity
The Stags were in a similar position this time last year when I left the club to take up an opportunity at Peterborough United. I fully expected them to finish the job.
For reasons no one will understand it fell apart but, this time, David Flitcroft seems to have the lads fully focused on a place in League One.
As a chairman and chief executive, John and Carolyn Radford will take some beating. They are both incredibly supportive and they ensure they back you as a manager every step of the way.
I hope the lads can do it for them. I still keep in touch with them. Quite simply, they set the very highest of standards and will be our family friends for life.