Exclusive: Lee Hendrie names the 3 best wingers in the EFL Championship right now | OneFootball

Lee Hendrie has spoken to FLW about who he thinks the best three wingers in the Championship are.

Sky Sports pundit Lee Hendrie has named Sorba Thomas, Jaden Philogene and Abdul Fatawu as the best wingers in the Championship after their rampant starts so far this term.

The 2025-26 Championship season has started with a bang, and there are plenty more twists and turns to come.

There’s been some unexpected sides towards the top of the table due to Ipswich Town and Southampton’s mediocre starts back in the second-tier, with Leicester City doing the best out of the relegated trio.

Meanwhile, beaten play-off finalists Sheffield United will be desperate to get themselves up the table as quickly as possible after reuniting with Chris Wilder for a third time, and it will be intriguing to see if his reintroduction can spark a promotion push.

Of course, the league table could well look very different come May 2026, but there has been some dangerous wide players who have caught a few eyebrows already from their displays.

With this in mind, Hendrie has commented on who the three best wingers in the Championship are.

Lee Hendrie lists Sorba Thomas, Jaden Philogene and Abdul Fatawu as best Championship wingers

Speaking exclusively to Football League World, ex-Aston Villa midfielder Lee Hendrie has listed Sorba Thomas, Jaden Philogene and Abdul Fatawu as the best three wingers in the Championship, with the trio all showcasing their talents early into this second-tier campaign.

Hendrie said: “It’s early on in the season, but you automatically look at who’s been creating, whose has been scoring goals, and I think Sorba Thomas at Stoke City has got off to a flying start himself.

“He’s got goals, assists, can play either left or right side and got a good delivery, helping Stoke get off to a flyer, so Sorba Thomas is definitely one for me that’s stoodout so far, for obvious reasons.

“Another one is Jaden Philogene. I did the Ipswich game against Sheffield United, and he was outstanding. Again, goalscoring, creativity, flair, getting bums off seats, and that’s what it’s all about. He’s really got potential dropping back into the Championship, I feel, a top player.

“The other one I would say is Fatawu. I think players that have had a taste of the Premier League really step up and show that their performances are just of that high calibre than what you normally see in the Championship.

“There’s lots of wide players to choose from, but I’ve just gone off form at this moment in time.”

Sorba Thomas, Jaden Philogene and Abdul Fatawu have set the Championship pace

It’s hard to disagree with Lee Hendrie over his picks early on in the season, with the trio of Sorba Thomas, Jaden Philogene and Abdul Fatawu all setting remarkably high standards.

Welsh international Thomas has been a livewire on the flanks at the Bet365 Stadium, contributing a goal and an assist on the opening day against Derby County, providing two assists in an away victory at Sheffield Wednesday before netting in another brilliant win on the road at Southampton.

After a frustrating Premier League term cut short through a knee injury, Jaden Philogene has returned to the second-tier looking to make a statement, and he certainly did so with a magnificent hat-trick against Sheffield United, displaying he has the quality to be a menace at this level and can help take Ipswich back to the promised land at the first time of asking.

Similarly, Fatawu had his top-flight opportunity snatched away from him through injury, with it playing a key role in Leicester’s subsequent relegation back down to the Championship.

He’s worked incredibly hard to come back and be ready for the new 2025-26 campaign, and he’s started brilliantly again, scoring consecutive goals against Charlton Athletic and Birmingham City, while claiming an assist in their away draw with Oxford United.