PREDICTION TIME! Who will win the Championship? West Ham and Wolves assessed on eve of EFL kick-off as relegation, League One and League Two decided

Forgive me for going full Jamie O'Hara here, but it's time to rejoice: proper football is BACK.

Yes, last week's Carabao Cup games - and the World Cup - were a nice little distraction to tide us over but the real stuff is back this weekend. And there's plenty of talking points to get stuck into before we prepare to embark on the white-knuckle ride that is a 46 game EFL season.

In the Championship, it's the land of the fallen giants with West Ham, Wolves and Burnley dropping back into the second tier. Will they make an instant return? Or can the teams who narrowly missed out on promotion last year, such as Middlesbrough, Millwall and Southampton, beat them to the post? Don't forget, the top eight will make up the play-offs this year.

Then in League One, Leicester City are the big scalp after dropping into arguably the most unpredictable division of all. They will vie with Sheffield Wednesday and Jack Wilshere's Luton Town for promotion. And in League Two, can Gary Neville and David Beckham's Salford City finally get over the line after some eye-catching transfer business?

Nobody really knows. But Mirror Football's crack team have taken a stab at predicting the big winners and losers...

Championship winners: West Ham

Promoted: Middlesbrough, Wolves

Relegated: Lincoln, Charlton, Blackburn

Top scorer: Raul Jimenez

Surprise package: Portsmouth

League One winners: Leicester

League Two winners: Salford

It's hard to see West Ham not making an immediate return to the top flight. Keeping hold of Jarrod Bowen is an unbelievable bit of business and their squad should be far too strong for the second tier. Middlesbrough look ready to join them in the Premier League after another near-miss last term, somehow managing to lose twice in the playoffs. I fancy Wolves to also bounce straight back, fired by the goals of the returning Raul Jimenez.

At the wrong end of the league, I think Blackburn may sail too close to the sun one too many times and slip into the third division. Charlton look set for another season of struggle and, as well as Lincoln have done reaching the Championship, I think they may find it difficult.

Portsmouth have made some shrewd additions in the transfer window and will be strong at home. Manager John Mousinho has another season of Championship experience under his belt and I think they may surprise a few.

Leicester, similarly to West Ham, have a squad far too strong for the level they are playing at and should bounce straight back to the Championship. Gary Neville, David Beckham and Salford City to win League Two.

Championship winners: Wolves

Promoted: West Ham, Middlesbrough

Relegated: Bolton, Lincoln, Blackburn

Surprise package: QPR

I know what you’re thinking…way to go out on a limb. The Championship prediction is made with more than a hint of bias, but I do think if Wolves can get one or two more faces through the door before the window closes they could be formidable. Simply put, a squad including Andre, Kieran Trippier, Raul Jimenez, Mateus Mane and Adam Armstrong should be enough to get it done. Even with some fierce competition from the likes of West Ham, Middlesbrough and Southampton - who will miss out due to their points deduction.

In League One, despite how disastrous his Rangers reign was, Russell Martin is a more than good enough manager to get Leicester back into the Championship. Although they will need to start well to arrest the slide that is now two years in the making.

And in League Two, the arrivals of Macauley Langstaff and Luke Molyneux - to a side that made the play-off final last season - should be enough for Salford City.

Promoted: Middlesbrough, Norwich

Relegated: Bolton, Charlton, Lincoln

Top scorer: Will Lankshear

Surprise package: Cardiff City

League One winners: Luton Town

League Two winners: Bristol Rovers

Everyone is having West Ham as the bankers to win the league but I'm not convinced Nuno Espirito Santo's pragmatic approach necessarily translates into a top two finish. Their squad is a joke, though, while and they'll be amongst the top teams, clubs will relish the prospect of going to the London Stadium and claiming a major scalp. The scrutiny on West Ham should open the door for Wolves to mount a title challenge with slightly less pressure. They have a manager who has no Championship experience but their squad, too, does not belong at this level and they are my picks for the title. Middlesbrough have levelled up in key areas, namely in goal (Radek Vitek over Sol Brynn) and up front, where Will Lankshear should feast if Boro can repeat the buffet of chances they produced for their forwards last season. I fancy them to finish second with Norwich, resurgent after appointing Philippe Clement midway through the season, a force in the play-offs.

At the other end of the table, Bolton and Charlton have had underwhelming transfer windows. Bolton will be right up against it after coming up through the play-offs, while Charlton, who eventually got over the line last season after winning the previous year's play-offs, have not signed the creative players required for them to 'evolve' as Nathan Jones wishes. Lincoln City have momentum and the nucleus of the squad that destroyed League One last year but losing Michael Skubala and their best player, Jack Moylan, makes an already daunting task even more difficult. Cardiff City are my surprise package tip; I fancy Brian Barry-Murphy's expansive style will translate well to the Championship and star striker Yousef Salech will also handle the step up with aplomb.

Everybody is tipping Leicester to romp League One so I'll go against the curve and tip Luton; they finished the season strongly after winning the EFL Trophy and Jack Wilshere will be all the better for the experience. Salford City have done some eye-catching business and again are heavily fancied to win League Two but Steve Evans has rebuilt Bristol Rovers and I can see them being there or thereabouts under him.

Promoted: Middlesbrough, Norwich City

Relegated: Portsmouth, Cardiff, QPR

Top scorer: Jarrod Bowen

Surprise package: Norwich City

League One winners: Leicester City

League Two winners: Salford City

It really is hard to look past West Ham. Nuno Espirito Santo has been there and done it and, as many have pointed out, Bowen is far too good for the Championship. Something will have to go very wrong for the Hammers to mess it up. Southampton have (so far) managed to hold onto their best players, barring Shea Charles, so should be right in the mix for promotion again. But Tonda Eckert still has an FA charge hanging over his head, which could prompt a lengthy touchline ban. The fallout from Spygate could cost them and help Middlesbrough.

Norwich were a team transformed after Philippe Clement’s arrival last season. They’re only eighth favourites with the bookies for promotion but I can see them surprising a few.

Portsmouth and QPR survived last season but were largely dreadful and could help Lincoln stay up after promotion from League One.

I fancy Russell Martin to get Leicester back up, despite losing some exciting players and the financial might behind the Salford project can’t afford it to stall much longer.

Championship winners: West HamPromoted: Middlesbrough, MillwallRelegated: Watford, Bolton, CardiffTop scorer: Jarrod BowenSurprise package: LincolnLeague One winners: LeicesterLeague Two winners: Port ValeThe Hammers keeping hold of Nuno Espirito Santo and Jarrod Bowen is their two best bits of business and they'll have too much not to return immediately. Lincoln as a surprise may raise eyebrows, given they won League One with more than 100 points, but plenty have tipped them for the drop.

Leicester are an obvious contender for League One and I'm not convinced by Salford in League Two, despite them being promotion favourites.

Championship winners: Southampton

Relegated: Watford, Stoke, Charlton

Surprise package: Millwall

Southampton have a lot to prove to the game and themselves this season, following their shameful end to the last one. But getting caught spying on play-off opponents Middlesbrough will give the Saints more than enough fuel to come back fighting again, only this time legally, hopefully. Despite his dubious approach and the subsequent four point deduction, manager Tonda Eckert has done a fine job on the south coast. The season-long loan signing of striker Divin Mubama from Manchester City could prove to be a shrewd move, while the arrival of Lewis Dobbin from Aston Villa in a £10m deal will bring some class and composure to the team.

Middlesbrough have been promotion contenders for a few seasons now, and have only finished outside the top eight once since 2022, so this could well be their time to make a return to the top flight. West Ham, meanwhile, have kept hold of their two best assets despite relegation from the Premier League, in the shape of manager Nuno Santo and England international Jarrod Bowen. Bowen is too good for the Championship, and should be the best player in the entire league this season. If he can maintain the form he's capable of, his goals should give the Hammers an immediate return to the top flight.

Leicester still have the quality to get back into the Championship from League One, while Bristol Rovers look to be the best placed team to win League Two ahead of Salford City.

Championship winners: West Ham United

Promoted: Middlesbrough, Southampton

Relegated: Lincoln City, Bolton Wanderers, Blackburn Rovers

League Two winners: Barnet

West Ham are the most obvious Championship winners since Newcastle United came down a few years ago. In Nuno they have a proven manager who has won the league before, Jarrod Bowen who will be the best player in the division and a financial muscle and set-up that separates them from the field.

Middlesbrough were the best team in the league for so long last season but ran out of goals, a shortcoming they look to have addressed. Tonda Eckert may have landed in hot water but if he survives any sanction after Spygate, it was clear he had the Saints on the charge last term. Norwich also came like a train after the appointment of Philippe Clement and have recruited well.

Leicester will be too strong not to bounce back from League One, as long as they keep their noses clean on the financial front. Barnet look well-placed to improve on last season’s eighth.

Promoted: Southampton

Relegated: Lincoln, Bolton, Portsmouth

Top scorer: Taty Castellanos

Surprise package: Stoke City

The relegated three might have endured varying levels of chaos on their way back to the Championship but their squads should still be strong enough to set the pace. Then again, Southampton had the best squad last year and it took until they changed manager to show it. Even with a points deduction, a couple of key departures and the disdain of their rivals they will be around about it this time.

It is going to be so tight between most of the rest and it will come down to who has a knack of tipping close games in their favour. Stoke’s chances of a good year at last hang on an overhauled midfield. Most seasons since 2018 have all-but finished in January so, with the play-off expansion, it would be a dream for supporters to go into the spring feeling alive.

Promoted: Wolves (second), Norwich (playoffs)

Relegated: Portsmouth, Blackburn, Bolton

Surprise package: Lincoln City

West Ham's squad is just too good to be at this level for any longer than a season. Keeping Jarrod Bowen was huge and Nuno, despite relegation last season, is still a good and wily manager. I can't see beyond them for the title and I still expect them to strengthen in the transfer market too. It would be a huge shock if they didn't win it.Wolves have made a couple of impressive signings and I fully expect them to be challenging West Ham for the crown. César Peixoto is new to English football, but he looks to have them better organised from what I've seen in pre-season. Plus they aren't finished in the market. As for the playoffs, I was hugely impressed by Norwich last season towards the back end of the campaign. Had a good run under Phillipe Clement. I like the Andre Brooks signing and their forwards are a real handful. I'm predicting them to go up at Wembley.I love Tony Mowbray, but I think he's got his hands full at Blackburn in trying to keep them in the league this season. The signings haven't really caught the eye and there's still problems that need resolving. Portsmouth I thought would go down last year, but they had a decent run towards the back end of the campaign that got them out of trouble, but I think this might be the year. And Bolton I think could be in danger purely because the first season out of League One is always tough because the leap from that to the Championship is vast.

Lincoln may well surprise a few people this year. They have a unique way of playing, but they are well organised, their excellent at set-pieces and their pressing is very good. In Ben House they have an absolute machine who never stops running. Sincil Bank is not the easiest place to visit either.

Top scorer is a tough one to call but I am going to say Jarrod Bowen, although I think Mohamed Toure at Norwich and Adam Armstrong at Wolves will run him very close.

In League One, I just think Leicester will be too strong for the division really. Once they get acclimatised the division, they should bounce back straight back. Salford have had an excellent summer of recruitment in the division below and Macualey Langstaff will score bundles at that level. Unbelievable signing for the level.

Promoted: Wolves, Middlesbrough

Surprise package: Swansea City

West Ham have to be favourites to go back up to the Premier League as champions. They've got such a strong squad for this level and I strongly suspect Jarrod Bowen will tear up the division and score loads of goals. Last season's Golden Boot winner Zan Vipotnik will also hope to be in the mix. Middlesbrough really impressed me under Kim Hellberg and I suspect they'll be an even better prospect this time around. Wolves also look to be firmly in the hunt.

At the other end, I think Lincoln will find the step up just a bit too much, but I think Cardiff City and Bolton might just have enough for some reason. Charlton and Blackburn just about escaped last time out but I think they might just struggle this time around.

As for the surprise package, I really like what Swansea have done this summer. They've strengthened in key areas and if they can keep hold of Vipotnik they'll have three top forwards for this level with Adam Idah and Ross Stewart also on the books. I wouldn't be at all surprised if they're part of the play-off conversation.

Championship winners: Middlesbrough

Promoted: West Ham, WolvesRelegated: Lincoln, Charlton, PrestonTop scorer: Jarrod BowenSurprise package: NorwichLeague One winners: LeicesterLeague Two winners: Chesterfield

I can't see any spying from stopping Middlesbrough this year, with Kim Hellberg having made quality additions in key areas over the summer. I'm then backing West Ham to finish second with their stacked squad - hence my pick for top scorer, Jarrod Bowen - and Wolves to win the play-offs.

Going down, I don't see Lincoln's managerial setup working while I think Charlton and Preston's boardroom uncertainty will permeate onto the pitch. Norwich, meanwhile, are almost in danger of the dark horse curse given the amount of fans and pundits tipping them for a play-off finish.

In League One, I can't look past Leicester. And I'll go with Chesterfield for the League Two title - it genuinely would've been York had they not sacked Stuart Maynard.

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