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While the top nine, to me, look fairly easy to predict, and Hull and Stoke are fancied to finish detached, gauging the remaining clubs chances appears tricky. I’m not sure there’s much between any of them but there are certainly a few ‘improvers’ who I expect to go well. Likewise, it could be a struggle for some of the more established sides. First up, here are the four that should have no relegation fears:

Middlesbrough

‘Boro are never ones to have the mortgage on, they are too inconsistent for that, but Gareth Southgate is putting together a very solid squad of players and they impressed me towards the end of last season.

The arrival of Afonoso Alves has, perhaps, given Stewart Downing somebody clinical to get on the end of his super deliveries but crucially the men from the Riverside look stable at the back. David Wheater is a player of huge potential, and will be ably assisted by Robert Huth, while the departures of Rochemback and Boateng has cleared out a lot of the dead wood.

New arrivals include Didier Degard, a holding midfielder to replace Boateng’s ageing legs, and Marvin Emnes, a more creative player that is likely to feature on the opposite flank to Downing.

If Alves can find a striker he feels comfortable alongside, Tuncay, Mido and Aliadiere are the options, then Southgate could nudge his side towards the top half and that would be a great achievement. Luke Young’s departure to Aston Villa is a blow, but the ‘Boro academy is one of the best around and I’m sure Southgate has a ready made replacement already lined up.

Predicted finishing position: 10th

Wigan

The Latcis are the team from this group of sides that interests me in the run up to the new season and, like Southgate, Steve Bruce has proven there is certainly no shortage of talented English managers currently employed by top flight clubs.

Still a relative novice, Bruce has already been around a bit but this is, without doubt, the most talented bunch of players he has had anywhere and I am sure he is looking up rather peering over his shoulder towards the bottom three.

Keeping hold of the likes of Valencia and Palacios was key this summer and Bruce has, in fact, retained the services of his entire first eleven. Daniel de Ridder didn’t fire at Birmingham, but remains a player to keep an eye on, while Oliver Kapo and Lee Cattermole further bolster the squad.

As with last term, Wigan’s problems are still likely to lie in scoring goals but Emile Heskey leads the line brilliantly and I believe Bruce has assembled the best back five of any side in the bottom half. Chris Kirkland will establish himself as England’s number one sooner rather than later while Paul Scharner continues to impress and Mario Melchiot has blossomed as captain.

Wigan are the first of two sides I want to be with on the handicaps this season and receiving a 44 point head start in Sky Bet’s market means they’ll only need 48 on the board to be in the mix. I am confident they can achieve at least that.

Predicted finishing position: 11th

Sunderland

Roy Keane has, no doubt, been a frustrated man in the transfer market this summer but having raided Tottenham for Chimbonda, Tainio and Malbranque, all quality players, and with the prospect of more new faces, Sunderland should be able to improve a few places on last season’s 15th position finish.

The key for Keane will be recruiting at least one new striker before the window closes because, although El-Hadji Diouf is another decent signing, he is far form prolific and the Black Cats will surely miss Kenwyne Jones enormously unless they buy quickly.

In Craig Gordon Sunderland have one of the league’s best stoppers but with the excellent Jonny Evans now having returned to Old Trafford, following a loan spell, Keane must rely on the less than fashionable pairing of Collins and Nosworthy in the heart of his defence.

They don’t fill me with that much confidence but their overall terrific work rate and passionate home support will always make Sunderland difficult to beat in the north-east and, although I don’t expect their games to be great to watch, they should be safe with something to spare.

Kieran Richardson is due a big season and providing he can stay injury free could force his way back into England reckoning.

Predicted finishing position: 12th

Newcastle

At times last season the goings-on at St. James Park resembled a circus. Mike Ashley, the brash new owner, appears completely devoid of any common sense while Keegan’s return was laughable. Kev appears so out of touch with what is require to succeed in the Premier League these days it’s frightening.

Having signed nobody of note to date, although Fabricio Coloccini appears set to arrive, I don’t see how Newcastle can possibly improve on last season, despite the fact they finished with a relative flourish, and are definitely a side to take on.

Shay Given can’t keep bailing them out of trouble forever and the four that are likely to play immediately in front of him look hardly any better than Championship standard. Throw into the mix their key attacking players’ injury records, Joey Barton’s antics and an ageing midfield and I can only see yet more woe.

As I eluded to, I see the top nine fairly certain not to be penetrated and for Newcastle to finish in the top half they would have to ‘win’ the rest of the league. The fact that they are odds on to do so is quite astonishing and I am having a very lumpy wager on the Magpies not to do so. The 2.10 on them ending the campaign in worse than tenth place is tremendous value and I strongly recommended you follow me in.

Predicted finishing position: 13th