Who Have Been the Standout Players in the Championship?

We’re into October now and the Championship is well and truly underway.

The fight is on, with only two points separating first and third at the top of the table. Swansea City are ruling the roost currently.

Leeds United are hot on their heels and are looking strong contenders for promotion.

The Championship has already treated fans to some spectacular football. Who have been the standout players so far?

Ollie Watkins

At the end of the 2018/19 season, Crystal Palace and Sheffield United were both interested in signing Watkins up for the club.

It’s not surprising. This season, the Brentford striker has been the club’s top scorer so far, with seven goals on his strike record.

Watkins was instrumental in Brentford’s 3–0 victory over Derby County, who, he has confessed, he nearly joined back when he was at Exeter City.

He struck twice in the first half, adding to Bryan Mbeumo’s opening goal for the side and putting the game beyond the Rams.

Watkins isn’t just the club’s top scorer; he’s also the league’s top scorer, so if you’re looking to make any Championship bets on who will be the player of the season, he’s a player to keep in mind.

Joe Rodon

The Welshman is still finding his feet in the team since making his debut for Swansea City back in 2018, but he’s turned out to be one of the finest jewels in the defence.

His fabulous form for the Swans persuaded the Welsh national team gaffer, Ryan Giggs, to give him a call-up.

Rodon didn’t disappoint. The team went on to win their Euro 2020 qualifier against Azerbaijan 2–1 in early September and the gaffer was happy with the defender’s debut performance.

Marcus Tavernier

There’s been a lot of hype around Middlesbrough’s Marcus Tavernier, an England under-20 international, as being the next big thing, which means there’s been a lot of pressure, too.

He’s certainly proved this could be the case.

Middlesbrough were up against Preston North End next, after a demoralising 4–1 defeat by Sheffield Wednesday, and it was the left winger’s first full start for his club.

Tavernier dazzled with his quick feet and his desire to break and push forward.

He fired three shots at goal, which went either a whisker wide, were tipped over or charged down, but his key contribution was to slot through a pass for Paddy McNair, who put home the leveller and make it a 1–1 result for the Boro.

All eyes are on the electrifying Tavernier now.

Who will be the next Player of the Year?

All three have the talent to scoop the next Player of the Year Award in the Championship.

At the EFL awards earlier this year, Teemu Pikku won the Player of the Season award in the league.

The Norwich City forward scored 26 goals this season, playing a major part in the club’s promotion to the Premiership.

There is still a long way to go in the season, time enough for any player in the Championship to sneak into contention.

It will be interesting to see who does. Watch this space.