40. Owen Moxon
Club: Carlisle United
Position: Midfielder
Age: 25
Paul Simpson improves players out of possession; Moxon, signed from Scotland’s fourth tier, is the beneficiary. He’s still the creative maestro, though, a dozen assists aiding Carlisle’s promotion bid after nine years in League Two.
THEY SAID “It’s brilliant – I just hope no one reports it.” Simpson tries to keep December’s Player of the Month under the radar.
39. Bali Mumba
Club: Plymouth Argyle
Position: Defender
Age: 21
While the wing-back has acceleration that borders on frightening, he’s also well-rounded and very versatile, with a game based on more than simply attacking the flank – his touch, creativity and eye for goal make him an even greater threat veering infield. In truth, he’s already good enough to play for parent club Norwich.
38. Viktor Johansson
Club: Rotherham United
Position: Goalkeeper
Age: 24
Johansson, an imposing figure and one of the Championship’s top shot-stoppers, gave Millers fans a pleasant surprise when he signed a new deal to 2025, amid reported interest. He has been as reliable as he has busy.
DID YOU KNOW? As of March 1, no other keeper in the division had racked up 100 saves this term. Johansson had made 132.
37. Leif Davis
Club: Ipswich Town
Position: Defender
Age: 23
Kieran McKenna has switched from 3-4-2-1 to 4-2-3-1, yet his side now get far more productivity from their left-back. Signed from Leeds for around £1 million, the Geordie has both the pace and stamina to dominate his flank, the composure to pick out good crosses and the determination to cover all his defensive bases.
36. Anis Mehmeti
Club: Bristol City
Position: Midfielder
Age: 22
Gareth Ainsworth left his mark on Mehmeti. The dribble king responded instantly if Wycombe lost the ball, preparing him well for a return to the Championship with Bristol City. The Albanian has sublime vision and agility.
DID YOU KNOW? He signed for Wycombe’s reserves from Essex Senior League side Woodford, but was quickly a first-teamer.
35. Ryan Manning
Club: Swansea City
Position: Midfielder
Age: 26
The Irish wing-back still has the forward drive he showed while at QPR, but his much improved awareness under Russell Martin has added goals to his creativity.
THEY SAID “He’s not renewing his contract – I love him, he loves it here, but we didn’t address the situation properly last summer,” said a miffed Martin in February.
34. Sam Hoskins
Club: Northampton Town
Position: Midfielder
Age: 30
HE TOLD FFT There are probably quite a few people surprised to see I’ve scored so many from midfield. I’ve always thought I had it in my locker, but it’s about producing it out on the pitch. I’ve probably been a tad more greedy as well. Sometimes it doesn’t come off and my team-mates might get a little annoyed, but a lot of the time they’ve been going in so they can’t really complain too much!
33. Josh Windass
Club: Sheffield Wednesday
Position: Forward
Age: 29
Playing off Michael Smith, Windass loses defenders with ease. He opened 2023 with five goals in a week by knocking Newcastle out of the FA Cup after hitting
a hat-trick against Cambridge.
HE SAID “I got bored of absolute numpties giving their opinions on football when they have no clue about it” – on quitting Twitter.
32. Oscar Estupinan
Club: Hull City
Position: Forward
Age: 26
Fans couldn’t believe their luck when Hull signed the Portuguese top tier’s fifth-leading goalscorer from 2021/22, especially when he struck seven times in August to become Championship Player of the Month. The goals slowed but the Colombian’s effort didn’t.
HIGHLIGHT An absurd first-time hooked volley of a last-minute equaliser against Huddersfield.
31. David McGoldrick
Club: Derby County
Position: Forward
Age: 35
Restricted to signing free agents, the Rams had to act smart – and they don’t come smarter than ‘Didzy’. The experienced, elusive forward has given Derby class and guile – and, even at 35, the odd turn of pace – as well as 20 league goal involvements so far.
HIGHLIGHT Scoring his first ever hat-trick, so late in his career. And then a second. And a third.
