SURPRISE PACKAGE

MY team to watch this season will be Stoke. If they can complete a deal for Dean Ashton it will make them very strong up front and, added to what they already have, it makes them my tip to break into the top 10.

Tony Pulis proved last year that he knows what it takes to win Premier League games and with a full years’ experience behind him, I really believe he can take them on to the next level.

Same for Sunderland. Darren Bent is a good signing because a club like Sunderland is far more suited to him than a club like Spurs. He will get every opportunity to be their main man and with a proven campaigner like Steve Bruce leading the way, I can see them making a real impact this time.

I think Gianfranco Zola will continue to surprise us at West Ham but I can’t see Fulham building on their highest ever finish from last season.

They were lucky in that they had no injuries to their major players and this time, with the Europa League to contend with, it will be much more difficult.

The north west trio of Wigan, Bolton and Blackburn I expect to be as solid and unspectacular as ever.

GOING DOWN

I CAN’T see how Portsmouth can possibly cope with the loss of as many players as they have suffered – their only saving grace is that there should be three teams even worse off in trying to keep their heads above water at the highest level.

I can’t see Burnley and Birmingham being strong enough to stay afloat. It’s impossible to do the strengthening required after winning the play-offs and Birmingham are too reliant on young Benitez – is he really going to get them 15 goals?

And if Hull don’t find someone who can score they won’t get enough goals to stay up.

I fancy Wolves to beat them on that score. They remind me of Reading when they first came up, lively and vibrant with just the right combination of a strong home following and unknown quantity.

PLAYER TO WATCH

FOR me, it’s players to watch this time – Manchester City’s starting XI. I think it will be fascinating to see how Hughes juggles it all and who he finally settles on.

I just hope Craig Bellamy’s been brushing up on his right-back skills!

Mark Lawrenson was talking to NICK SMITH