Sunderland, Middlesbrough and Hull City were relegated into the Championship, while Sheffield United, Bolton Wanderers and Millwall were promoted into it.
Derby’s Will Hughes
Derby County midfielder Will Hughes isn’t expecting an easy ride from the Championship next season, with the 22-year-old claiming that the league has stepped up in quality yet again, as reported by Derby’s official club website.
While the division sees Newcastle United, Brighton and Hove Albion and Huddersfield Town depart for the Premier League, it welcomes Sunderland, Middlesbrough and Hull City to replace them.
Aston Villa’s Libor Kozak in action with Derby’s Will Hughes
However it’s the teams from League One which arguably make the league a lot stronger, as Sheffield United, Bolton Wanderers and Millwall will replace Rotherham United, Wigan Athletic and Blackburn Rovers.
Speaking ahead of the fixture release day, which is on June 21st, Hughes explained that while it’s fairly easy to suggest the division is getting stronger, the quality seems to improve every year and if the relegated sides can keep their best players, it makes it even more difficult for a side like Derby to get promoted.
Derby County’s Will Hughes scores their third goal
“They get tougher every season,” Hughes said to Derby’s official club website. “I know it is easy to say that, but with the teams that are coming up from League 1, they will be coming up with no fear and I think the overall quality is also starting to get a lot better.
“It’s still a very physical league, but there are a lot more teams that want to play football. You also have the teams coming down from the Premier League, having just played against a lot of the best players in the world, and that’s only going to help them.
“If those three teams can keep the core of their players, they will be strong.”
Burton’s Jackson Irvine in action with Derby’s Will Hughes
The Rams are now under the stewardship of Gary Rowett, with the former Derby defender becoming the third manager the club hired in the 2016/17 season, with Nigel Pearson and Steve McClaren both being hired and fired in the space of a few months.
Ultimately, Derby finished ninth in the Championship, though the league position sounds better than how they actually fared in some ways, as Rowett’s side ended up 13 points behind sixth placed Fulham.
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