Burnley striker Peter Crouch believes that Norwich City, Leeds United and Aston Villa will get promoted to the Premier League.
The former Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool striker has also backed Aston Villa to win promotion to the Premier League via the playoffs.
The 38-year-old former Stoke City star believes that Norwich City will win automatic promotion from the Championship, and the ex-Villa striker has predicted Sheffield United to suffer playoff heartbreak.
Crouch wrote in The Daily Mail: “I know how good the teams involved in the fight are, having played the first half of the season at Stoke, and Norwich look as if they are over the line. They really surprised me with the quality of their football and I expect them to go up as champions.
“Leeds and Sheffield United are both excellent but my gut feeling is that Leeds will clamber over the line in second place. I also have a suspicion that Sheffield United will suffer the blow of failing to get out of the play-offs.
“Aston Villa are finishing fast and their win at Rotherham in midweek was huge. Keeping hold of Jack Grealish in January was huge for them and I always think the side with momentum can deal with play-offs best.”
Promotion race
With Norwich looking set to win the Championship title this season, the battle for the other automatic promotion spot is between Leeds and Sheffield United, and one suspects that it will go down to the wire.
Villa have been superb under manager Dean Smith in recent weeks, and the Villans will be a force to be reckoned with in the playoffs.
However, West Bromwich Albion have a strong attacking unit, and the Baggies will not be easy to get past in the playoffs.
Sheffield Wednesday are also doing well, and the Owls could be a tricky opposition if they clinch a playoff spot.
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