Exclusive: Lee Hendrie names 3 underrated EFL Championship players | OneFootball

There are plenty of second tier players going under the radar - but who has ex-Premier League midfielder Hendrie singled out?

The Championship has its fair share of talent across its 24 clubs, so much so that some very good players almost certainly go under the radar to neutral watchers.

Much money is spent on players in the second tier of English football nowadays, such is the money that is trickling down from the Premier League, but it's not always the ones that go for big money that are the most naturally gifted.

But, who are some of the most under the radar individuals right now in the Championship? FLW asked a former Premier League player that has a continuous eye on the division...

Lee Hendrie names Swansea City, Bristol City & Middlesbrough players as "underrated"

Lee Hendrie, who has turned out for the likes of Aston Villa, Stoke City and Sheffield United, is currently a pundit for Sky Sports, and with a watchful eye on the Championship, he has picked out three of the most underrated footballers in the league.

Given he was a former central midfielder himself, it comes as no surprise that the selected trio all operate in the engine room, and his first selection comes in the form of Swansea City's Ethan Galbraith.

The Northern Ireland international, who came through the Man United academy, joined the Swans from League One play-off final runners-up Leyton Orient in a £1.5 million summer deal, and he has already hit the ground running in South Wales - and has suitably impressed Hendrie.

"Tricky one really that is to answer, the underrated Championship players, going off what I've seen this season, I really like Ethan Galbraith at Swansea," Hendrie exclusively told FLW.

"I think he had a great season at Leyton Orient and he's really gone under the radar for me. He was outstanding against a Premier League opponent in Nottingham Forest, he was my Player of the Match, he was very, very good. Very versatile as well, playing in midfield, played at full-back, and probably goes under the radar a bit."

The second midfield player that Hendrie believes is an underrated Championship player is Bristol City captain Jason Knight.

The Republic of Ireland international has racked up over 200 second tier appearances across stints with the Robins and formerly Derby County, and Hendrie thinks that his work goes somewhat unnoticed at Ashton Gate.

"It's mostly midfield players, and I've also picked Jason Knight at Bristol City," Hendrie added.

"Since coming in from Derby, he's really showed that he's a big leader at 24 years of age, there never seems to be much talk on whether he might move or anyone coming in and taking a punt on him, but I think these midfielders sometimes go under the radar because naturally, they're looking at wide players, exciting goalscorers, whereas these players can break the game up, and still play some really good football, which I think they are capable of doing so."

Finally, despite all the hype and continuous talk over Hayden Hackney's future at the Riverside Stadium, it is his midfield partner - USA international Aidan Morris - that Hendrie thinks deserves praise.

A $4 million signing from Columbus Crew in the summer of 2024, Morris has been a mainstay at the heart of the Teessiders' midfield, and is someone that doesn't get the praise he warrants.

"The other one is Aidan Morris at Middlesbrough. 23 years of age and a similar sort of role, breaks the game up well, can play on the front foot, and really shows he's grown into playing in a Middlesbrough shirt," Hendrie said of the American.

"I really feel that he's been very, very good, and again gone under the radar for that role he plays."

Lee Hendrie's selected trio all have the potential to play Premier League football

Even though you can argue that all three of Hendrie's selections are underrated in their own way, both Galbraith and Morris are definitely receiving plenty of plaudits for their early season form.

Against Nottingham Forest in the EFL Cup especially, Galbraith took the game to the Tricky Trees, and his Championship performances have been just as good.

Aged 24, Galbraith has plenty of time to hit his ceiling, and you'd imagine that would be him playing in the Premier League - whether that's with Swansea or another club.

Knight meanwhile has been at Championship level for a while and it remains to be seen if he gets his chance at top flight English football anytime soon, but it would be a travesty if Morris does not play in the Premier League at some point.

Hayden Hackney may get most of the Boro limelight, but Morris pulls the strings from the base of midfield and covers an awful lot of ground without doing anything flashy - the $4 million signing is worth at least double that now, and he won't be underrated by many for long.