The voting slips are out — well, emails these days — for the players of 2023-24 in the EFL, which got The Athletic thinking about who has impressed us on our travels.
The Premier League dominates the news agenda but our experts follow football at all levels, so our panel have each chosen a player from the Championship, League One and League Two.
We have tried to spread the love but there are recurring names too, Leeds United winger Crysenscio Summerville and Mansfield Town’s Davis Keillor-Dunn particularly.
Let us know who we have glaringly missed out… we don’t doubt you will.
Championship: Crysencio Summerville, Leeds United winger
It has been safe to call Summerville a slow burner since arriving from Feyenoord in 2020 but this has been the season for his career to take off. In a crowded field of talented wingers in the Championship, the 22-year-old has consistently stood out from the crowd with his pace and trickery. And with 17 league goals to his name, he has been a driving force in pushing Leeds forward in their bid for an immediate Premier League return.
League One: Eiran Cashin, Derby County defender
Derby County’s inexorable movement into the automatic promotion picture has been built upon defensive strength and Cashin, the 22-year-old centre-back, has been an enormous influence. Brighton & Hove Albion spent last summer chasing the young defender but the decision to resist offers has been vindicated. A career headed only one way.
106 appearances and counting… 🐏#DCFC pic.twitter.com/z2Nz3guDy0
— Derby County (@dcfcofficial) February 2, 2024
League Two: Davis Keillor-Dunn, Mansfield Town midfielder
It’s only two years since Keillor-Dunn was part of an Oldham Athletic squad relegated to National League but he’s set to leave League Two from the opposite end with Mansfield Town. His return of 19 goals and eight assists from midfield underlines a superb campaign under Nigel Clough and the 26-year-old has consistently produced key contributions.
Philip Buckingham
Championship: Sammie Szmodics, Blackburn Rovers striker
The 28-year-old is having the season of his career — it’s a good job too, for Rovers’ sake. He has scored 23 league goals in 38 games in a struggling team that do not create a ton of chances. He has single-handedly kept Blackburn out of even more trouble and made his Republic of Ireland debut.
🎙️ “𝙄𝙩’𝙨 𝙟𝙪𝙨𝙩 𝙞𝙣𝙚𝙫𝙞𝙩𝙖𝙗𝙡𝙚, 𝙞𝙩’𝙨 𝙟𝙪𝙨𝙩 𝙗𝙧𝙞𝙡𝙡𝙞𝙖𝙣𝙩, 𝙎𝙖𝙢 𝙎𝙯𝙢𝙤𝙙𝙞𝙘𝙨 𝙨𝙘𝙤𝙧𝙚𝙨 𝙖𝙩 𝙀𝙬𝙤𝙤𝙙 𝙋𝙖𝙧𝙠!”
🫡 @SamSzmodics curled in his 27th of the season.#Rovers 🔵⚪️ pic.twitter.com/HpFgLNOUIg
— Blackburn Rovers (@Rovers) March 10, 2024
League One: Harrison Burrows, Peterborough United left-back
The 22-year-old oozes class. The Peterborough academy product and fan has been handed the captaincy by Darren Ferguson and despite his tender years has taken his game to the next level. Has scored five times, provided 12 assists and is a joy to watch.
League Two: Dan Kemp, Swindon Town (loan) and MK Dons midfielder
The 25-year-old has had a strange season entirely in keeping with a nomadic career. The former West Ham United youngster was loaned out to Swindon at the start of the season and scored 16 goals in all competitions. Since his recall, he has sparked Dons’ promotion charge with another three goals. He has nine assists to his name too.
Craig Chisnall
Championship: Ethan Ampadu, Leeds midfielder/centre-back
Ampadu has been a mainstay in Daniel Farke’s side since his £7million move from Chelsea. The Wales international was used as a defensive midfielder for the first half of the season but has since been shifted to centre-back to cover for injuries. His performances and commanding presence have been so impressive that the 23-year-old was given the captain’s armband in January. He has been key to Leeds’ push for the title.
GO DEEPER
Ethan Ampadu is the rock on which Leeds United’s promotion charge is based
League One: Colby Bishop, Portsmouth striker
After Portsmouth’s 3-1 win over Wycombe last weekend, Wanderers boss Matt Bloomfield said you would struggle to find a better No 9 in League One – and he’s right. Bishop signed for Portsmouth in the summer of 2022 from Accrington Stanley and quickly settled into life at Fratton Park, being named player of the season in his first campaign. His 18 goals this season mean Portsmouth look destined to return to the championship, likely as champions.
Bishop has led the line brilliantly for Portsmouth (Bryn Lennon/Getty Images)
GO DEEPER
The teacher turned striker chalking up goals in Portsmouth’s promotion push
League Two: Dan Crowley, Notts County midfielder
Notts County’s season has gone off the rails since former manager Luke Williams departed for Swansea City, but Crowley has continued to be the metronome in their midfield. Signed from Morecambe in the summer, his 22 goal involvements this season is second to only Macaulay Langstaff in the County squad. His ability to pick up the ball deep and drive forward has been pivotal in allowing the likes of Jodi Jones and Langstaff to thrive, culminating in County scoring the most goals in the division despite them languishing in 16th. They’ll do well to hold onto him.
Joe Bentley
Championship: Georginio Rutter, Leeds forward
Almost like a cheat code at this level, the French attacker has been a revelation. His trickery on the ball and ability to ghost past defenders has made Rutter almost unplayable. Some may scoff and say, ‘Well, he did cost £36million so of course he should be ripping the Championship apart.’ But that price tag looked way over-inflated a year ago after a difficult first few months in English football, Rutter’s form being so poor that the 21-year-old barely featured during the run-in despite Leeds sliding towards relegation. The mental strength required to bounce back from such an inauspicious start makes his season even more impressive.
Rutter has shrugged off a slow start to star for Leeds (Harry Trump/Getty Images)
League One: Nathaniel Mendez-Laing, Derby County forward
A huge part of Derby’s attacking game, Mendez-Laing seems equally at home in any front position. He has eight goals to his name, meaning he trails James Collins in Derby’s scoring stakes. But it is his ability to create goals for others that really sets him apart. It helps that he’s allowed the freedom to drift inside or stay out wide. Paul Warne clearly sees Mendez-Laing as more than just an attacking threat, too, having recently handed the 31-year-old the captain’s armband when Conor Hourihane was unavailable.
League Two: Davis Keillor-Dunn, Mansfield Town
If, as seems likely, Mansfield are to make up for the heartbreak of missing out on promotion a year ago and booking their place in the top three, Keillor-Dunn’s goals will have been a huge factor.
So smooth with it, @davisjames10 😎#EFL | @mansfieldtownfc pic.twitter.com/GOTpx3qPzs
— Sky Bet League Two (@SkyBetLeagueTwo) March 10, 2024
The former Wrexham attacking midfielder is at the heart of all that makes Clough’s side such a pleasure to watch. He’s good on the ball and always trying to make something positive happen.
Richard Sutcliffe
Championship: Crysencio Summerville, Leeds United
This has been Summerville’s season with goals and a starring role in Leeds’ push for a Premier League return. He is so often the difference in games when he cuts in from the wing and links up with Rutter. A decent shout to be made for Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Kyle Walker-Peters and Callum O’Hare too.
GO DEEPER
Summerville is shaping Leeds’ season – even when he’s not supposed to
League One: Nathaniel Mendez-Laing, Derby County
Choosing just one player from League One is probably the hardest decision on this list but Mendez-Laing’s 16 assists and eight goals have been a stellar contribution as Paul Warne’s side challenge for automatic promotion back to the Championship. They’ve seen off Bolton and Peterborough, who are packed with talented young players who could be in with a shout here too.
League Two: Jodi Jones, Notts County winger
The assist king. Yes, Notts have fallen off a cliff in the latter half of the season and they will not be anywhere near the promotion picture but it’s hard to argue with a player making history and rivalling Lionel Messi. Jones is a cut above when it comes to providing for team-mates and is great fun to watch as he takes players on one-on-one too.
GO DEEPER
Analysing the art of the assist – with the set-up king, Notts County’s Jodi Jones
And so ends my selection of three tricky wide players for the same award…
Nancy Froston
Championship: Crysencio Summerville, Leeds United
A bit-part player in his first few seasons at Leeds, he has established himself as the star of Farke’s side. At 22, he has come of age; 17 league goals and eight assists is outstanding, but his versatility and ability to drag deep-lying opposition defences out of positions has consistently made the difference for Leeds. If Leeds do return to the top flight, his contribution will have been decisive.
Crysencio Summerville, TAKE A BOW! 🤯 pic.twitter.com/Cp2ApE0H2R
— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) March 29, 2024
League One: Eoin Toal, Bolton Wanderers defender
Toal’s early upbringing was playing Gaelic football, helping explain his athleticism and physicality, but the 6ft 3in defender is assured on the ball and provides a goal threat from set pieces. A natural leader on the pitch, the Northern Ireland international signed a three-year contract extension with Bolton last month. It feels more when and not if he will continue his rise in the Championship.
Eoin Toal 🤝 goals away at Lincoln in front of the away end#bwfc pic.twitter.com/QokF8iqtTQ
— Bolton Wanderers (@OfficialBWFC) December 27, 2023
League Two: Jodi Jones, Notts County
Jones raises fans from their seats. The 26-year-old’s desire to exploit the width of the pitch, dribble past defenders and deliver crosses into the area is a constant threat. His 23 direct goal assists is more than double the tally of his nearest challenger in the division. Jones’ versatility has seen him deployed as a wing-back and winger on both flanks, and occasionally centrally. Both scoring and conceding at a rate of just shy of two goals per game, Notts County are the league’s great entertainers and Jones is the centrepiece.
Colin Millar
Championship: Leif Davis, Ipswich Town left-back
There are plenty of candidates in this exciting Ipswich side, particularly the unsung heartbeat Sam Morsy. However Davis has again been excellent at left-back. A consistent performer who loves to get forward, Davis has bettered last season’s impressive 17 goals and assists with games to spare. How Leeds must regret letting him go.
League One: Eiran Cashin, Derby County
Derby are building their bid for a Championship return on solid foundations and in Cashin and Curtis Nelson they have one of the best defensive pairings in the division. It’s been two years since Cashin burst on to the scene via the club’s academy. He has amassed 101 appearances and was named their young player of the year last term. Surely he’ll be playing football at a higher level next season, one way or another.
League Two: Isaac Olaofe, Stockport County striker
Stockport know that goals lead to promotion. Only Wrexham scored more when County won the National League in 2021-22. Dave Challinor has gone about building a potent strikeforce, blending youth with experience. Loanee Louie Barry will learn lots from the likes of Paddy Madden and Nick Powell, but it’s former Millwall youngster Olaofe who has led the way with 19 league goals. Boasting the deadly combination of power and pace that keeps defenders up at night, Olaofe and Stockport look set to go again in League One next season.
Andrew Pigott
GO DEEPER
Inside Stockport County – the club who just can’t stop winning
Championship: Leif Davis, Ipswich Town
Yes, Summerville has caught the eye but another left-sided player has also lit up the Championship: Davis, at promotion rivals’ Ipswich. The flying left-back has been at the heart of Ipswich’s wonderful campaign that sees them locked in a thrilling three-way fight for the two automatic promotion places. The 24-year-old, sold by Leeds to Ipswich in 2022 for a little over £1m, scored his side’s first during Saturday night’s 3-2 win over Southampton as Kieran McKenna’s team, the king of the late victories, found a way yet again — even if Ed Sheeran had left early to beat the traffic. He deserves to showcase his talents in the Premier League next season.
Davis has proved money well spent by Ipswich (Stephen Pond/Getty Images)
GO DEEPER
‘Very good, Davis!’: Meet the Ipswich left-back rivalling De Bruyne and Messi in the assist stakes
League One: Josh Sheehan, Bolton Wanderers midfielder
Sitting at the base of the Bolton midfield, Josh Sheehan is the key cog in the Ian Evatt machine — their classy ball player who dictates the play and keeps things ticking over. A full Wales international, the 29-year-old also brings experience to a midfield that includes talented youngsters such as Paris Maghoma and Nathanael Ogbeta. Sheehan’s fine form this season is even more impressive as he bounced back from a horror ACL injury in November 2021 that saw him sidelined for almost a year. As Evatt puts it: “When Josh plays well, we play well.”
League Two: Jodi Jones, Notts County
Another player who has fought back from terrible injuries — Jones suffered three cruciate ligament injuries in as many years — and feared for his career but he has found a home, and a rich vein of form, at Notts County. After winning promotion with Notts last season, Jones has really kicked on this campaign.
Just brilliant ✨ pic.twitter.com/zcKxKi6PQT
— Notts County FC (@Official_NCFC) February 14, 2024
The video above shows Jones at his scintillating best this season — terrorising Newport County’s defenders with a mazy run before setting Macaulay Langstaff up to head home. One moment of magic among many.
Tom Burrows
Championship: Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Leicester midfielder
Leicester may have hit a slump in form but one player who has been head and shoulders above the rest is Dewsbury-Hall. His 11 goals and 13 assists from midfield aside, his all-round play has been outstanding and integral to what had been a precession up until the beginning of March. It was a surprise that top-flight sides didn’t take advantage of Leicester’s relegation in 2022-23 to secure his services, but he will likely be a Premier League player next season, with or without Leicester.
League One: Ephron Mason-Clark, Peterborough forward
The 24-year-old’s skills have dazzled and bamboozled many-a-full-back, providing 14 goals and seven assists in the league for a Peterborough side aiming for the play-offs and heading to Wembley on Sunday in the EFL Trophy. Should they be successful in their promotion charge, they will join Mason-Clark in the Championship next season; his performances earned him a move to Coventry in February before being loaned back to Darren Ferguson’s side for the remainder of the season (that is, of course, if Coventry don’t get promoted to the Premier League!)
Clark is heading for Coventry at the end of next season (Michael Regan/Getty Images)
League Two: Davis Keillor-Dunn, Mansfield Town
If the season started in January then Hakeeb Adelakun would be a strong contender — the midfielder has been in scintillating form since joining Doncaster on loan from Lincoln City at the start of 2024. But it’s Keillor-Dunn. His guile and goals from attacking midfield have been integral to Mansfield’s promotion push.
Richard Amofa
(Top image, from left: Summerville, Cashin and Keillor-Dunn have all caught the eye of our panel. Photos: Getty Images)
