The Promoted Ones: Premier League new boys for the season

The 2016-17 Premier League season is inching closer and all the teams are actively involved in the preparation to the new season. While the big boys of the league are sharpening up for what seems to be an exciting league season, the newly promoted trio will be determined to keep hold of their Premier league status. The dramatic rise of Leicester City will definitely be an inspiration to the sides, but the competitive nature of the league will definitely push the sides to the extremes.

We take a closer look at the teams who are making the step up from the Championship for the season and will see who all have the firepower to stake a claim for survival and a few surprises this season.

BURNLEY FC

Manager: Sean Dyche

Captain: Tom Heaton

Key Player: Andre Gray

Sean Dyche has led the Clarets back to the Premier League after spending just one season in the Championship following their relegation in the 2014-15 season. Burnley were the first team ensured of promotion after they won the Championship with a game to spare. And a final day comprehensive victory over Charlton ensured that Burnley won the Championship with a margin of 4 points. They were unbeaten on 23 occasions in the season, conceding just 35 goals. There were question marks over the attacking prowess of the side following the transfer of Danny Ings to Liverpool last season. But they found a perfect replacement in Andre Gray who finished the campaign as Burnley’s and the League’s top scorer.

The English striker netted 25 for Burnley in the season which also included a hat-trick against Bristol City. The team will be counting on the attacking capabilities of Gray in the Premier League who will be supported by Welshman Sam Vokes. Vokes was the second top scorer for Burnley netting 16 times in all competitions.

Meanwhile, on the other end of the pitch, the responsibilities will be on the shoulders of goal-keeper and club captain Tom Heaton.  The former Manchester United shot-stopper is coming into the Premier League on the back of an impressive Championship campaign where he and his defence had 20 clean sheets to show for.

This tally was the second highest in the championship behind the fellow promoted side Middlesborough. But Heaton and his defence will know that much bigger and tougher challenges await them in the elite league this season. And this has prompted Sean Dyche into bringing in newer recruits like Jon Flanagan, who arrives on a loan deal from Liverpool.

Having been one of the founder members of the old Football League, Burnley would be hoping for a much longer stay than what they had last time out in the Premier League.

HULL CITY A.F.C

Manager: Vacant

Captain: Michael Dawson

Key players: Abel Hernandez, Robert Snodgrass

Founded in 1904, Hull City have fairytales to tell when it comes to the Premier League. the club made its first ever appearance in the 2008-09 season and made quite an astonishing start to their life in the Premier League. They started their Premier League campaign with a 2-1 win over Fulham and even went on an impressive run with just one defeat in the opening 9 games. This even made them the joint table toppers at the time. However, Hull have been on a slide ever since in the Premier League, and the 2016-17 season will see the Tigers make a return to top flight after being relegated in the 2014-15 season.

They have had to take the tough route into the Premier League after having to play the play-off against a competitive Brighton & Hove Albion in the semifinals and Sheffield Wednesday in the playoff finals.

Hull City come into the Premier League with a joint second leanest defensive record and a second highest scoring record in the Championship. They scored 69 goals out of which 20 were scored by their Uruguayan striker Abel Hernandez. The striker was the Championship’s third top scorer and also had his club career’s first ever hat-trick last season. His impressive showing in the league saw him being awarded the Club’s Player of the year and the Players player of the year.

They have a nice mix of youth and experience with club captain and experienced defender Michael Dawson leading the backline along with other players who have had a successful taste of Premier league football like Tom Huddlestone, Curtis Davies etc. The recent addition to the roster, Robert Snodgrass, will make this team even more competitive.

However, the club is currently without a manager as Steve Bruce stepped down from the post after leading them into the Premier League. Mike Phelan is the front-runner to take the job.

An impressive goal scorer to lead the line and a decent enough defence will be put to the extreme test and the Hull City fans would be expecting more fairytales like their debut season in the Premier League.

MIDDLESBOROUGH F.C

Manager: Aitor Karanka

Captain: Grant Leadbitter

Key Player: Alvaro Negredo

There is no arguing with the fact that out of the promoted teams, Boro’s return has made more headlines. And a major reason for that is their activity in the transfer market. Middlesborough’s recruits in this window include the former Barcelona and Manchester United goal-keeper Victor Valdes, former Manchester City striker Alvaro Negredo, who is on a loan spell from Sevilla and the dynamic Uruguayan midfielder Gaston Ramirez. These newer additions have made them look really impressive on paper for a newly promoted side.

They were very much in the race for the Championship title and eventually finished 2nd behind Burnley and ahead of Brighton & Hove Albion on goal difference. Managed by former Real Madrid man Aitor Karanka, Boro had the best defence in the Championship last season conceding just 31 goals in their 46 games. However, scoring was a concern for them as they only managed to score 63 goals in the Championship. But their intention in the transfer market has made a loud and clear message to the rest of the Premier League.

Middlesborough had to wait a long time for this return to the Premier League. They spent 7 years in the Championship and will be hoping to make up for the lost time in the elite division. Boro have their own Premier League stories to tell as they were once seen as a team that could upset any quality side. Karanka and his side will be hoping to create such an impact again on the Premier League in this return.