Gareth Bale, Charlie Adam, Fabian Delph, Nathaniel Clyne and many other such names have come through the lower divisions of English football to earn big money moves to top clubs.This season, we will see Bournemouth, Watford and Norwich City back in the Premier League. Bournemouth reigned victorious over Premier League opposition last season, won the SkyBet Championship and played some attractive football under their young manager Eddie Howe.Norwich possess a strong core of Premier League experienced players and Watford retain a repertoire of dangerous forwards who could devour any top flight defence – and this heightens the sense of excitement that little bit more.All three squads appear to be appropriately equipped for a survival push and have been quite active this window to give them an edge the upcoming season. So, the players to watch out for from these teams this term are:
#1 Callum Wilson (AFC Bournemouth)
England Under 21 striker Wilson fired The Cherries into the Premier League, accumulating a brilliant total of 23 goals across the course of the season.
However, due to his goalscoring prowess, it is reported that over half of the Premier League’s clubs are after his services, with Spurs, Southampton, Swansea and Newcastle all interested.
Goals are a necessity in the Premier League and a lack of them could prove fatal – just ask Burnley – so retaining Wilson’s services is vital for Bournemouth as they embark on their first Premier League season.
#2 Matt Ritchie (AFC Bournemouth)
Such was Ritchie’s blistering form last season, the winger earned his first call up to the Scotland national side, for whom he made his first appearance in a 1-0 win over Northern Ireland in March.
The 25-year old contributed to the most goals out of the entire English professional football spectrum, by scoring 13 goals and assisting 17 others in a remarkably fruitful campaign.
Ritchie has the credentials to establish himself as a Premier League player, and his relationship with Callum Wilson could prove vital in his side’s push for survival.
#3 Joshua King (AFC Bournemouth)
Bournemouth wasted no time in preparing for life in the Premier League by signing exciting Norwegian international, Joshua King, from Blackburn Rovers earlier this week.
The former Manchester United forward will “improve the athleticism of the squad” according to boss Eddie Howe, and the speedy forward demonstrated his punishing goal scoring prowess against Stoke City in an FA Cup tie earlier this year, blitzing past the Stoke rearguard to score a fantastic hat-trick.
King bagged 8 goals last season and will be out to impress ex-employers Manchester United having being offloaded from the Premier League giants without making a single appearance.
#4 Troy Deeney (Watford)
Club captain and all round Watford hero, Deeney, is fully deserving of his status as a Premier League player, having claimed the accolade of being the first Watford player ever to score 20+ goals in three consecutive campaigns.
Having been subject to bids for his services from Leicester City last summer, Deeney opted to stay and fight for promotion at Watford, where he has spent the last five years of his career, scoring 77 goals in just over 200 appearances.
Keeping Deeney fit next season is absolutely pivotal for Watford as they aim to guarantee their Premier League status for another year, and if the 27-year old keeps up his current streak of scoring 20 goals each season (which admittedly will be a stunning feat), his Watford side may be in with a chance.
#5 Ikechi Anya (Watford)
Equally adept at playing as a wing-back as he is a winger, Ikechi Anya proved to be an essential cog in The Hornets’ side over the 2014/15 campaign.
So blistering were his performances in the yellow of Watford, Gordon Strachan began to use him frequently in his Scotland side and his faith in Anya was rewarded when the Watford winger scored a stunning breakaway goal against Germany to equalise in Euro qualifying, back in September.
If Anya can use the same otherworldly levels of pace he shown in scoring that goal away at Germany, Premier League defences should really be fearful of the Scotsman.
#6 Simon Francis (AFC Bournemouth)
Simon Francis was an integral part of AFC Bournemouth's Championship-winning team last season, scoring once and providing six assists from right back in 42 matches. Francis is known to be a good attacking fullback who is solid with the ball and his physicality gives him an added edge.
Couple this with the signing of Tyrone Mings (Left Back) from Ipswich, Bournemouth could well be a force to reckon with on the wings.
The defender averaged nearly 2.5 Interceptions and tackles won last term, which was amongst the highest in his position in the league. His only weakness is his tendency to go all-out on tackles, which led to 9 yellow cards and 1 red card. The 30-year-old has spent his time in England at very division, but due to his age, this could be his make or break season.
#7 Cameron Jerome (Norwich City)
Cameron Jerome, who has had a relatively hitty-missy career so far, burst into life in the colours of Norwich City, scoring 21 goals in 45 games in the Canaries’ promotion charge.
Jerome will have to improve his Premier League goalscoring tally if Norwich are to be comfortable in the league, but on current evidence, the 28-year old looks confident enough to eclipse his previous best top flight tally of just 11 goals.
Alex Neil, Norwich’s manager, seems to have instilled a considerable amount of belief into the speedy striker, and the pair will both be hoping Norwich’s season is equally as successful as last the last campaign.
#8 Nathan Redmond (Norwich City)
Those who play FIFA vouch for this guy. His speed and ability to dribble past defenders is a well-known quality that the everyone is widely aware about. Young Redmond has proven during his time in The Championship and on England duty with the Under-21’s that he’s more than capable of performing week in, week out in the Premier League.
Electrically-charged displays throughout Norwich’s successful campaign, including a man of the match performance in Monday’s play-off final, the 21-year old looks set to trouble top flight defences for the foreseeable future, and there isn’t a full-back in the league who Redmond will fear.
This is, of course, entirely dependent on Redmond staying with the Canaries, as there is rumoured interest in the winger from a host of clubs, but Norwich will be intent on keeping their star man, come the start of 2015/16 campaign.
#9 Gary Hooper (Norwich City)
When Hooper signed for Norwich back in 2013 after scoring 63 goals in 95 games for Celtic, many were surprised that one of the ‘so-called’ bigger sides decided not to make a move for him.
After impressing so heavily in various Champions League ties, namely against the mighty Barcelona, Hooper’s career has slid downhill somewhat after his move to Carrow Road with Norwich.
Yet due to the 27-year old’s prestigious track-record, Hooper will be intent on showing the football world exactly why he received such rave reviews during his time at Celtic, and we wouldn’t be surprised if Hooper proves to be a potent influence in next season’s campaign.
#10 Matej Vydra (Watford)
The 23-year-old Czech Republic striker was recently signed permanently from Udinese by Watford after two successful loan spells at the club. Vydra scored 16 goals in 31 starts in the Championship last season, adding to his reputation at the club having managed 22 for the club during the 2012-13 campaign.
He had a spell in the English top flight with West Bromwich Albion – again on loan from Udinese – during the following season. The results that season were far from impressive that term in which, 16 of his 23 league appearances, in which he scored three times, came from the bench.
The striker is known for his speed and off-the-ball movement, with his partnership with Troy Deeney could be key in Watford’s pursuit of another season in top flight.