Exclusive: Lee Hendrie names the 3 EFL Championship clubs he's most excited about right now | OneFootball

The Sky Sports pundit has been impressed by a trio of second tier sides in the early weeks of the season

Sky Sports pundit and EFL expert Lee Hendrie has revealed the trio of Championship sides which have really caught his eye in the early weeks of the season as we look forward to the upcoming critical autumn and winter months.

Across the second tier, there is a great variety of clubs when it comes to stature as well as their current short and long-term ambitions, which once again makes the division as compelling as ever for the neutral and supporters of the 24 sides in general.

Throughout the off-season and summer transfer window, several sides made a number of eye-catching changes either in the dugout or on the pitch, and they have since impacted said club in an extremely positive or negative manner in the opening six matches of the league campaign.

The likes of Ipswich Town, Leicester City and Southampton will all be hoping to mount sustained bids for automatic promotion after immediately being relegated back to the EFL from the Premier League, whilst Birmingham City, Wrexham and Charlton Athletic have already proven individually that they are no pushovers after achieving promotion out of League One.

With Hendrie often analysing key matters at each one of the division's clubs for Sky Sports, he believes that a handful of sides have already put forward strong cases for a successful campaign that was perhaps unexpected prior to the beginning of the season.

Lee Hendrie is extremely excited about 3 EFL Championship sides right now

When asked to pinpoint three sides who have impressed him in the opening weeks of the current term, Hendrie exclusively told Football League World that his first pick was Queens Park Rangers, who have turned their form around in recent weeks following a 7-1 drubbing at the hands of Coventry City.

"I think we've touched on some of the players QPR have taken in this season, and they've got off to a really good start," he began.

"With the potential that they have in that squad, some really good young players and some that probably weren't expected to make the step-up.

"The likes of (Richard) Kone, we've touched on (Harvey) Vale. They've got a really good squad of players there that can definitely take them, I think, to a possible next level," Hendrie claimed.

"I think everyone doubted them when (Marti) Cifuentes left that this wasn't going to happen. But, they've showed character, they've got a good group there that could be the exciting package this season.

Hendrie's next pick isn't perhaps the greatest of surprises at present, as he opted for leaders Middlesbrough, who have enjoyed their best-ever start to a season following the summer appointment of Rob Edwards.

"I've touched on Middlesbrough. With Rob there, I just feel they look good, they look like they can produce something this season.

"I've always been a big fan of the Middlesbrough sides while Carrick was there," he added. "They got so close at times and just fell away.

"If they can get that consistent level with the squad they've got, I think they could really push forward this season. That's why I think they'll be one of the exciting teams to keep tabs on."

The pundit's final selection was Swansea City, who have caught the eye of many with some impressive transfer dealings and performances in the early stages of Alan Sheehan's first full season in charge.

"I've been really impressed with Swansea this season," Hendrie continued. "They're a team that look like they've got something different to what they've previously had.

"Since Sheehan's gone in there he's really transformed them. He's made them difficult to beat and they look good going forward at the moment.

"I think, season after season, they've got by each season. This time around, we might see a difference with what they've got.

"(Zan) Vipotnik is scoring goals, I've touched on (Ethan) Galbraith, Ronald. They've got some really good players, and I think they've got a good manager that can steer them. I think they've got potential and there's definitely excitement that they could do something this season."

Lee Hendrie's picks have all enjoyed relatively strong starts to the Championship season

All of Hendrie's picks are extremely justified, especially when it comes to Middlesbrough as they sit four points clear at the top of the table at such an early stage.

Edwards has made several adjustments to his squad that have seen them become part of the promotion conversation, whilst also retaining the services of prized asset, Hayden Hackney, amid long-standing top flight interest.

QPR are enjoying a fine run of form at present, having won three games on the bounce by an aggregate score of 7-2, proving that very few encounters involving Stephan's men are going to be dull, with Kone already showcasing his second-tier level talent with three goals in five games, and his firepower has been nicely complimented with a plethora of shrewd dealings.

Swansea supporters were left reeling once again over the weekend as, for the second straight league game, Sheehan's side conceded in second half stoppage time, doing so against Hull City and Birmingham City, whilst a remarkable comeback victory against UEFA Europa League outfit Nottingham Forest was sandwiched between.

Hendrie was right to pick out Vipotnik and Galbraith as the Swans' best performers thus far, whilst supporters will be hoping that Adam Idah can eventually justify the hefty sum the club parted with to prize him away from Celtic.