After an absence of five seasons, Wolverhampton Wanderers return to their rightful place in the Premier League as title winners of The Championship.

Wolves were the team to beat this season and finished with a seven-point cushion on nearest rivals Birmingham. Wolves were the top-scoring team of the division and forward Sylvan Ebanks-Blake won The Championship Player of the Year award. Under the astute management of Mick McCarthy, the Midlanders imposed their authority throughout the season.

Birmingham, having gained automatic promotion along with Wolves, were demoted last year but bounced back at the first attempt.

Alex McLeash, formerly of Rangers, brought the best out of his squad. The Scot said that he would stay to silence his critics.

The three clubs relegated to League One have all been in the Premier League lately - Norwich, in 2004-05, Southampton, in 2004-05, and Charlton in 2007.

All three also played in the third tier of the English game before: Norwich in 1986; Southampton 1978 and Charlton 1992.

PFA Select XI

Westwood (Coventry), Naughton (Sheff. Utd), Johnson (Cardiff), Stearman (Wolves), Fox (Coventry), Kightly (Wolves), Hunt (Reading), Ledley (Cardiff), Gomez (Swansea), Ebanks-Blake (Wolves), Scotland (Swansea).

Hat-trick heroes

August 16: Sharp for Sheffield United (H) vs QPR 3-0.
August 30: Doyle for Reading (H) vs Crystal Palace 4-2.
September 16: Doyle for Reading (H) vs Sheffield Wed. 6-0.
September 20: Iwelumo for Wolves (A) vs Preston 3-1.
October 21: Lita for Norwich (H) vs Wolves 5-2.
February 3: Ebanks-Blake for Wolves (H) vs Norwich 3-3.
May 3: Burton for Charlton (H) vs Norwich 4-2.