As Burnley and Hull gear up to face one and another tomorrow in the first clash this season between two promoted teams, here is our promoted teams XI.
Hull’s Tom Huddlestone and Middlesbrough’s Gaston Ramirez
Middlesbrough, Burnley and Hull City have had one of the best starts to a Premier League season by all three promoted teams in history.
After two game weeks they had the best record for a set of promoted teams in the Premier League era, and despite just one of the three picking up any points in their third set of fixtures, they’re all still well-placed.
Hull City are flying highest, despite being widely tipped to have a disastrous campaign, they’re currently fifth, with 6 points, Middlesbrough are one point and one place behind, whilst Burnley sit in 13th on 3 points.
High-flying Hull have had a great start to the season
Of course, it’s still very early in the season, and just three games in is far too early to read too much into how the season is likely to pan out for all three.
Burnley topped the Championship last season, Middlesbrough invested heavily in the summer and Hull City always had a squad which looked Premier League class.
As a result, all three squads possess much quality, and creating a combined XI is no easy task, but here’s what we’ve managed to come up with:
Goalkeeper: Tom Heaton
Burnley goalkeeper Tom Heaton in action for England
England’s number three in the absence of Stoke goalkeeper Jack Butland, Tom Heaton has become a dependable and important player between the sticks for Burnley and just edges out the likes of Victor Valdes, David Marshall and Eldin Jakupovic.
Centre-Back: Daniel Ayala
Former Liverpool and Norwich defender Daniel Ayala always showed promise, but he has become a real stalwart at the back for Middlesbrough. The standout player in a defence which was consistently among the best in the Championship.
Centre-Back: Curtis Davies
Curtis Davies has been outstanding for Hull City
The most exceptional player from any of the promoted teams so far this season, Curtis Davies has been an absolute rock at the back for Hull City this season.
From marshalling Jamie Vardy to keeping Zlatan Ibrahimovic in his back pocket for 90 minutes, Davies was nominated for the Premier League’s Player of the Month award alongside Antonio Valencia, Eden Hazard and Raheem Sterling.
Centre-Back: Michael Keane
Having opted for a back three, there is no room for two very good left-backs in Hull’s Andy Robertson and Middlesbrough’s George Friend, but it does allow three very solid central defenders.
Burnley’s Michael Keane is the last of the trio, the ex-Manchester United man was chased by Leicester all summer and even linked with Chelsea more recently.
Central Midfield: Tom Huddlestone
Former Tottenham man Tom Huddlestone oozes class in the centre of Hull’s midfield. Ryan Mason and Markus Henriksen will add to that, but haven’t yet featured for the Tigers, hence their omissions.
Central Midfield: Steven Defour
Burnley signing Steven Defour whilst playing for Belgium
Burnley’s record buy very briefly until the arrival of Jeff Hendrick, although it is Defour who we believe to be the superior player. With a couple of European giants among his former clubs and almost half a century of caps for Belgium, Defour should bring invaluable experience to Turf Moor.
Central Midfield: Adam Clayton
Another trio featuring a player from each of the promoted teams, this time in central midfield, is rounded off by Boro midfielder Adam Clayton.
The 27-year-old formerly of Leeds and Huddersfield has grown as a player at Middlesbrough, and was arguably the clubs outstanding performer last season.
Attacking Midfield: Robert Snodgrass
Robert Snodgrass scores in Hull City’s opening day defeat of Leicester
After his start to the season it would be impossible to leave out Hull City’s Robert Snodgrass. The Scotsman has played 5 games so far this season, scored 5 goals and won 4 games.
Playing on the right of a front three in the 4-3-3 adopted by Mike Phelan, Snodgrass has been a revelation, and even scored a hat-trick for Scotland over the international break.
Forward: Andre Gray
The Burnley striker may have found himself in trouble recently as a result of some questionable tweets from four years ago, but there’s no doubting the threat he poses on the pitch.
The Championship’s top scorer last season has already opened up his Premier League account against Liverpool and is Burnley’s most dangerous player.
Forward: Alvaro Negredo
Middlesbrough’s Alvaro Negredo celebrates scoring his first goal for the club
A real marquee signing for Middlesbrough, Alvaro Negredo scored 23 goals in 48 games in his single previous season in England with Manchester City.
After two unimpressive seasons with Valencia, Negredo seems to be enjoying the big fish in a small pond scenario at Boro and has impressed in his first three games, scoring once.
Forward: Abel Hernandez
A player of real class, Abel Hernandez was subject to a reported £20 million bid from Aston Villa in the summer, but Hull City fans will be delighted they kept hold of the Uruguayan.
Third in line to Luis Suarez and Edison Cavani for Uruguay, the ex-Palermo man scored 22 goals last term and, like Gray, has already opened up his account for this season too.
After a difficult first season, Abel Hernandez is now flying for Hull City
Our combined Middlesbrough, Burnley and Hull XI may have lacked a little width and balance in an unusual 3-4-3 formation and shape, but there’s no doubting the team contains some quality players.
How will the three promoted teams get on in the Premier League this season and was there anyone you feel should have made our combined XI?
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