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If, like me, you’re of a slightly negative disposition, it will feel like summer is a good as over, with the Fleadh behind us and the ‘back to school’ ads all over the TV. However, those who like to find a silver lining rather than get lost in the dark clouds will point out that this time of year also means ‘back to soccer’, with the top leagues in Europe gearing up for the big kick-off. The top-flight action in England is still over a week away, but the divisions below the Premier League are always compelling viewing, with the Championship as hard a league to win as any in the world. And this season’s renewal should be no different as the big clubs are lining up to win a golden ticket to the top tier for next term. For long spells of last season it looked like Tottenham would be the headline Championship act, but that honour now goes to West Ham, who took the plunge on the final day of the last campaign and will be desperate to bounce straight back up. The Hammers go to post for the new campaign as short-priced favourites, and they have had a very decent summer in terms of convincing manager Nuno Espirito Santo and captain Jarrod Bowen to stay in the east end of London to lead the revival. They were much-improved in the second half of last term and while Matheus Fernandes and Crysencio Summerville have moved on for big money, the core of the squad remains and there is cash to invest before the transfer window closes. Nuno’s men do look the class act in the division and will be buoyed by the fact that the ante-post favourites have come out on top in five of the last seven seasons, although Coventry flew home at 14/1 last term. At least one of the clubs relegated from the Premier League has bounced back in each of the last seven seasons, which will also be good news for Wolves and Burnley, both of whom are under new management after tepid top-flight seasons, but both new bosses – Cesar Peixoto and Nicky Hayen respectively – are new to English football and may take a while to adapt to the relentless nature of the Championship, with two games almost every week. Nuno does know the course, romping home with Wolves in 2018, but the unforgiving test means that West Ham are hardly a bet either at 7/4 to win the title, even though they are the best side on paper. There has to be better value elsewhere, with Middlesbrough and Norwich City well fancied, but my vote goes to Southampton, despite having to start with a four-point penalty due to the ‘Spygate’ scandal that saw them thrown out of the play-offs in May. Manager Tonda Eckert will also have to serve a ban at some stage, but the way he turned the Saints around after taking the reins from Will Still last November brings real grounds for optimism. They were 21st when the German took over and finished the regular season in fourth, picking up more points than anyone else in the second half of the campaign and going on a 25-game unbeaten run at one stage. Eckert got his players performing for him and has brought in proven Championship midfielder Lewis Dobbin from Preston and turned loans for goalkeeper Daniel Peretz and striker Cyle Larin into permanent deals. With a settled spine and Championship experience throughout the squad, the Saints look slightly overpriced at 14/1 to win the division, and at 9/2 to be promoted. A key change this term sees the play-offs expanded to six teams, so a top-eight finish is enough to keep promotion dreams alive, and Millwall look a good bet at 13/8 to be in that leading eight. The Lions were third last season, missing automatic promotion by a point before succumbing to Hull City in the play-offs, but manager Alex Neil will have dusted himself off and has brought in proven Championship players in Mark Sykes and Lyndon Dykes to bolster things. At the other end, League One champions Lincoln City have lost manager Michael Skubala to Bristol City and star man Jack Moylan to Cardiff, and the Imps are crying out to be backed at 7/4 generally to finish bottom of the pile. I also think Stoke City are massively overpriced at 20/1 to be relegated on the back of a dreadful second half of last season, when only Sheffield Wednesday picked up fewer points. Mark Robins is a solid manager but Stoke have been mired in the bottom half for a number of years and they have had a big turnover of players, with only Northern Ireland midfielder Ethan Galbraith bringing Championship experience with him. Returning to the upper reaches, West Ham captain Bowen is favourite at 11/2 to top the scoring charts, but his team-mate Taty Castellanos looks a fine bet at double that price. The Argentina international scored six in 18 Premier League games after joining from Lazio in January and should be a real threat in a quality side at this lower level, scoring twice in the Carabao Cup win over Portsmouth at the weekend to hint at things to come. At 22/1, Southampton’s Larin is also worth a look on the back of a fine World Cup where he scored twice for Canada. He has scored goals all over Europe and grabbed eight in 16 games after signing on loan in January, and with the Saints having the bit between their teeth, Larin could well be a force to be reckoned with during the long season ahead. SKY BET CHAMPIONSHIP SELECTIONS Southampton, e/w, 14/1 (bet365); to be promoted, 9/2 (Betway); Millwall, top-eight finish, 13/8 (BOYLE Sports); Lincoln City to finish bottom, 7/4 (General); Stoke City to be relegated, 20/1 (Betway); Taty Castellanos, top goalscorer, e/w, 11/1 (Ladbrokes); Cyle Larin, top goalscorer, e/w, 22/1 (Paddy Power)