League Focus: Championship 2014/15 Preview - Scots Key to Promotion Hopes

If much of the Championship's charm comes from its unpredictability, then this season promises plenty to get excited about. Write the names of 24 clubs on a sheet of paper, pick up a pen, close your eyes and circle one of them: the chances are you will have picked a team tipped somewhere for promotion.

Realistically, over a dozen teams can claim reasonable chances of going up. A cluster are destined for a battle at the bottom, while it is futile to predict who will end up in mid-table. Still, there are some interesting form lines to follow, not least the players who need to perform if their clubs are to meet expectations – and three with the biggest roles to play are Scottish internationals.

Plenty of attention will be placed on Ross McCormack. His transfer to Fulham has been declared overpriced before he has even made a competitive appearance. They have lost some of their bigger names but have had a good pre-season and if the striker, who at 27 is hitting his peak, can repeat the form which carried Leeds for so long, then the west Londoners are in a good position to bounce back immediately.

He scored 28 goals and contributed eight assists last season, pulling Leeds out of the mire so often, and while not immediate justification for an £11m move, it would be money well spent if he can guide Fulham back to the Premier League.

Another 27-year-old Scot, Craig Bryson, will be vital at Derby, where they will look to overcome the hangover of playoff defeat and push for the title. He was on the WhoScored team of last season and his 16 goal campaign was a magnificent return for a midfielder, especially when you add 13 assists into the bargain. Expect plenty from Will Hughes too, while Jeff Hendrick could impress plenty in the division’s most exciting midfield. If those two can add more goals to their armoury, then Derby should make the final leap back to the Premier League.

Blackburn ended up two points shy of the playoffs last season but they would have struggled to finish in the top half without Jordan Rhodes, whose 25 goals made him the second most prolific goalscorer in England's second tier. His commitment to Rovers is a big boost and, if those around him can contribute a little more, then expect a top six finish at least. The additions of Luke Varney and Chris Brown should bolster their attack further.

Among others, Cardiff will need their new signing Adam Le Fondre to fire and reach double figures for a fourth successive season. Goals, along with an unsettled team, cost them in the Premier League but having lost some big names, there will be a great deal of expectation on Le Fondre's shoulders. 

The other side relegated from the top flight last season, Norwich, have had a quiet summer but Lewis Grabban’s arrival from Bournemouth is eye-catching. They have also maintained plenty of last season’s squad. After gaining the reputation of a journey man earlier in his career, Grabban has now progressed up the ranks from League Two (18 goals) to League One (13 goals) and, last season the Championship, where he scored 22 times on the south coast. It was hard not to feel some sympathy for the Canaries’ woes in front of goal last season, with the signing of Ricky van Wolfswinkel proving an unmitigated disaster. Expect Grabban to have a much greater impact.

One team who could sneak under the radar, having brought in a couple of intriguing names from abroad, are Middlesbrough. A major benefit of having a Spanish manager - in Aitor Karanka - is that he has the potential to bring in untapped potential from his home nation. The signing of goalkeeper Tomas Mejias from Real Madrid may have raised some quizzical eyebrows, but he has been capped up to U20 level for Spain, a country currently blessed with some of the world's best stoppers.

More interesting, though, is the acquisition of Enrique Garcia from Real Murcia for €3.5m. He scored 22 times in the Segunda Division last season, and at 24 will be expected to develop further. In comparison to the £11m spent on McCormack, Boro certainly edge Fulham in the value for money stakes.

Finally, Ricardo Fuller completes a hat-trick of south London clubs by joining Millwall. Now 34, his seasonal goalscoring average has dropped considerably in the past five years, failing to reach double figures since doing so for Stoke in 2008/09. However, Ian Holloway's team need more attacking strength if they are to avoid another struggle near the bottom and, provided with sufficient service, there is potential for Fuller to enjoy a swansong not too far from where his career began 15 seasons ago.

Who do you think will gain promotion to the Premier League this season? Let us know in the comments below