Top 5: Championship’s surprise packages for Premier League promotion

Barnsley

Barnsley have definitely proved their worth in this division under the leadership of Paul Heckingbottom and they currently sit ninth place in the Championship table.

The gaffer secured the job following the departure of Lee Johnson to Bristol City and has been impressing ever since.

In his first season, the 39-year-old guided The Tykes to victory in the Football League Trophy final and then followed this up by then securing promotion to the Championship by beating Millwall in the League One play-off final.

Now, in only his second season in management, Heckingbottom (Pictured) finds himself in a position where his club is only a few points outside of the Championship play-off spots.

During their last spell in this division, Barnsley had a rather torrid time and only managed to finish as high as 17th in their eight-year spell.

Things seem different this time around though and they could certainly be well within touching distance of the play-offs when it comes towards the end of the campaign.

The only possible reason for their decline now would be due to the loss of Conor Hourihane, James Bree and Sam Winnall to Championship rivals in the most recent transfer window.