The new EFL season starts earlier than ever, with Huddersfield and Burnley facing off in the curtain-raiser.
A new campaign brings with it fresh optimism and that is also the case when it comes to players. And for those youngsters just starting out in their careers, the Championship can provide the perfect shop window for them to showcase their talents.
Numerous players down the years have sparkled in the second tier whilst on loan from Premier League sides. Mason Mount and James Garner are just two examples, having dazzled in temporary spells at Derby and Nottingham Forest respectively.
Here, Mirror Football looks at five youngsters from top flight clubs who are heading out to the second tier this coming season who could follow in their footsteps.
Auston Trusty
Arsenal signed defender Trusty from MLS side Colorado Rapids earlier this year. He was immediately loaned back to the States and finished last season there.
Now he is about to embark on a new adventure at Birmingham City. Aged 23, he has a wealth of experience in the MLS to call upon having made more than a century of appearances in the competiton.
And while his knowledge and experience of English football may be lacking, he certainly talks a good talk. Speaking about his move to Blues, he said: "Playing MLS, and doing well there, you get some respect and get noticed a little bit more. But if I come here and play my game like I can, I think I could turn a lot of heads, open a lot of eyes."
Troy Parrott
Preston pulled off quite the coup by landing the Republic of Ireland international on a season's loan from Tottenham. There was plenty of interest in Parrott after his fine form last term at MK Dons. He hit double figures and played a starring role in them finishing third in League One, just falling short in the play-offs.
The 20-year-old is about to embark on his fourth loan spell away from Spurs but will be desperate to prove he is a different player to the one who failed to score in 11 games when last at this level for Millwall two seasons ago.
He is set to spearhead North End as Ryan Lowe attempts to push the club forward after a couple of years of mid-table mediocrity.
Taylor Harwood-Bellis
Defender Harwood-Bellis is one of a clutch of players to follow the path from Manchester City to Burnley this summer. Whilst Arijanet Muric and CJ Egan-Riley made permanent moves, Harwood-Bellis' stay at Turf Moor is for only the duration of the coming season.
Only 20, this represents his fourth loan spell away from City but he will be hoping to prosper under a familiar face in ex-City colleague Vincent Kompany. A regular for England under-21s, Harwood-Bellis also played for the Belgian during a loan spell at Anderlecht and will be relishing stepping into the shoes of Ben Mee as the Clarets eye an immediate promotion back to the Premier League.
Tommy Doyle
Another City player poised to spend the upcoming campaign in the second tier, midfielder Doyle will be hoping to flourish during his temporary stay at Sheffield United.
This will represent the third placement away from the Etihad, having had experiences at both Hamburg and Cardiff.
Doyle, 20, is tipped for big things at City and so the chance to spend a full season hopefully playing regular football will have appealed to him. City will hope that Doyle playing in a team that has genuine aspirations of promotion will only enhance his development over the coming season.
Alvaro Fernandez
Another player set to spend the season at Deepdale, Manchester United youngster Fernandez had a raft of clubs scrambling to win his temporary signature.
But after a visit to watch Ryan Lowe's side during pre-season and having had open conversations with the manager, the Spaniard chose Preston as the location to aid the next stage of his career development.
He may only be 19 but the fact he won last season's under-23s player of the year award says it all. The left-back did enough to win a place in the senior United squad for the last few games of the previous campaign and will now be hoping to make Erik ten Hag sit up and take notice as he looks to impress for the Lilywhites.
