3 minute read

With football in the English Football League soon getting underway, a number of Australian stars will be hoping to take their respective clubs to, or a step closer to, the Premier League.

 North East well represented 

Looking at teams expected to battle for promotion in the Championship, Australia is well represented by clubs in the North East at both Middlesbrough and Sunderland.

Former Western Sydney Wanderers and Central Coast Mariners defender Nectarios Triantis will be hoping to get more game time this season at Sunderland.

Loaned out to Scottish Premiership side Hibernian last term, Sydney-born Triantis will be better for the experience in Edinburgh and the 21-year-old will be eager to kick on at Sunderland, who are 8.00 to be promoted from the Championship this season.

Down the road in Middlesbrough meanwhile, Aussie duo of Riley McGree and Tom Glover will also have aspirations for promotion to the Premier League this term.

Former Australia Under-23 international goalkeeper Glover, who also had a brief spell with the Mariners, will be competing for minutes between the sticks.

Australia international McGree should be an important figure in the Boro midfield, having agreed a three-and-a-half-year contract with the club back in January 2022.

Middlesbrough certainly look like contenders for a top-six finish this season and they are 4.50 to be promoted back to the top flight.

 Aussies enjoying south coast life 

Portsmouth are preparing for life back in the Championship and they too have a strong Aussie contingent hoping to shine in the second tier this season.

Australia international Samuel Silvera has joined the club on loan from Middlesbrough for the season, while countrymen Kusini Yeni and Jacob Farrell will also be looking to impress for Pompey this term.

Having witnessed Ipswich Town secure back-to-back promotions, Portsmouth will be looking to follow in the Tractor Boys footsteps and are 11.00 to up this season.

 Bolton duo with title aspirations 

Looking at the race for the League One title this term, Bolton Wanderers are the second favourites behind Birmingham City to lift the trophy and return to the Championship.

With the Blues are the 3.00 favourites for the title, Bolton are 11.00 to finish at the top of the pile come the end of the season.

Bolton vice-captain and Australia international Gethin Jones will be looking to lead from the front, while former Australia Under-17 defender Jack Iredale should be another big presence at the back.

Having been a mainstay in the Premier League for a number of years, Bolton are desperate to get to the head table of English football and Jones and Iredale will be eager to take the Trotters a step closer this season.