Once again, the Championship has produced a competitive group of promotion hopefuls, with Coventry City, Ipswich Town, and Middlesbrough establishing the standard throughout much of 2025/26.

They have regularly separated themselves from the pursuing pack, despite significant bids by Millwall, Hull City, and Southampton to catch Middlesbrough and co. With Coventry almost certain to join the Premier League under Frank Lampard, it appears that one of the other two will soon follow.

All three teams have been skillfully coached, integrating their tactical personalities while maintaining stability throughout the season. Equally essential is the depth of talent within each group. These aren’t teams competing for promotion based just on one or two great players.

Ipswich were recently relegated, while the other two have been competing at the top end of the Championship for some time now. They are packed with skill all over the pitch. As a result, selecting a combined XI is far from easy, with multiple spots being hotly debated.

A combined XI comprising Coventry, Ipswich, and Middlesbrough stars.

Here is a breakdown of the greatest combined XI of Middlesbrough, Ipswich, and Coventry. Each decision is justified not just by performance and quality, but also by balance and total impact over the 2025/26 Championship season.

Carl Rushworth is a goalkeeper for Coventry City.

Carl Rushworth has been a season-defining presence between the posts for Coventry, playing an important role in their promotion-winning season. His shot-stopping ability has been consistently excellent, frequently saving his team in high-pressure situations, and his command of the penalty area is improving. What gives him an advantage over his opponents is his dependability, as he rarely makes expensive mistakes and regularly makes crucial saves. With other excellent goalkeepers on these three teams, Rushworth’s consistency and incredible stats this season, with 7.9 ‘goals prevented per FotMob, make him the clear pick in goal.

RB: Milan van Ewijk (Coventry City)

Coventry’s Milan van Ewijk is one of the division’s most explosive full-backs. His energy has been constant up and down the flank as he operates on the right. He has improved off the ball, although his primary contribution is attacking energy and assists. His overlapping runs and ability to extend play have been critical to Coventry’s attacking strategy. Compared to Ipswich and Middlesbrough alternatives, van Ewijk’s all-round effect and consistency make him an obvious choice at right-back. Callum Brittain, on the other hand, has had a terrific season and should count himself unlucky not to have made it.

CB: Dara O’Shea (Ipswich Town)

Dara O’Shea has contributed leadership and a plethora of experience for his age to Ipswich’s backline. His understanding of the game is exceptional, allowing him to intercept danger early on, but it is aerially that he excels. Either O’Shea or Cedric Kipre had to be here, as both are strong in the air and comfortable in possession. So far this season, the duo have played an important role for Ipswich. While Coventry has other capable centre-backs in Liam Kitching and Bobby Thomas, O’Shea’s combination of organisation and consistency gives him a spot in our XI.

CB: Adilson Malanda (Middlesbrough).

Middlesbrough’s defensive pillar at centre back is Adilson Malanda. Physically dominating and combative in duels, he offers a contrast to O’Shea’s approach with his progressive passes out of the back on the ball. His ability to defend huge distances and win one-on-one fights has been critical in Middlesbrough’s system, but Kim Hellberg also looks to Malanda for passes into midfield to assist launch assaults from deep. His profile compliments the rest of the defence nicely, and his individual physical and athletic abilities make him tough to miss in a combined selection.

LB: Leif Davis (Ipswich Town).

Leif Davis is one of the easiest choices on the list. At Ipswich, he is the division’s best left-back, continuing to reinvent the role of a full-back. From a defensive standpoint, he is perhaps one of the league’s most creative players, with consistently high delivery and chance creation ratings. Davis routinely offers attacking production, assists, and area control on the left side, whether overlapping or underlapping. He has room for improvement on defense, but it is his offensive ability that truly distinguishes him from the rest of the league’s fullbacks. He is an obvious choice among the three clubs’ left-backs.

DM: Frank Onyeka (Coventry City)

Frank Onyeka provides the defensive balance needed in midfield for Coventry, and his influence since signing in January has proven to be the missing piece of the puzzle for Lampard. His energy, ball-winning skills, and positional discipline enable more creative players to thrive. While Matt Grimes has been impressive, the requirement for a balanced midfield combination ultimately benefits Onyeka. His ability to break up play and cover ground is critical in a combined XI with a wealth of offensive skill. Onyeka’s presence provides defensive solidity, making him an obvious choice alongside a more progressive midfielder. But, will it be Grimes?

DM: Hayden Hackney, Middlesbrough.

The progression of this double pivot was between Hayden Hackney and Grimes. Unfortunately for the Coventry captain, the Boro midfielder has once again demonstrated his status as one of the Championship’s most intelligent and capable midfielders this season. His abilities to set the tempo, split lines with progressive passes, and maintain possession make him crucial. In this XI, he gives a creative spark from deeper areas, which complements Onyeka’s defensive abilities. While other midfielders were evaluated, Hackney’s technical ability stands out among all players in his position in the league. His inclusion ensures that the side maintains dominance in the center of the park.

RW: Jaden Philogene (Ipswich Town).

Jaden Philogene earned a berth as one of Ipswich’s standout wide players. Naturally more at ease on the left, but two-footed enough to play on both sides, his direct dribbling, flair, and all-around attacking ability to beat defenders keep him a continuous threat. Despite this, he is selected on the right side of this XI due to the absence of equally effective alternatives from Coventry or Middlesbrough. His individual quality is simply too outstanding to ignore. Even when playing slightly out of position, Philogene’s attacking production and ingenuity deserve his inclusion here.

AM: Jack Rudoni, Coventry City

Jack Rudoni has been a vital creative force for Coventry for the past two seasons, working effectively in advanced midfield areas, much like his boss as a player. His intelligence between the lines, ability to link play, and eye for goal make him an ideal candidate for the number 10 position. Rudoni’s effort rate is particularly noteworthy, contributing both in and out of possession. In an attacking-heavy team, his ability to connect midfield and attack is invaluable. Despite an injury-plagued season, he is the best at his position in the league when healthy, and his all-around performance offers him an advantage in this role.

LW: Jack Clarke (Ipswich Town).

Jack Clarke is another left-sided attacker who must be included in the XI. His ability to cut inside, create chances, and score goals has contributed significantly to Ipswich’s success after relegation. He, like Philogene, prefers to play from the left, but both players are included since they are of higher quality than options from the other two clubs. He has kept his colleague out of the lineup because of his end product, which makes him one of the most dangerous wingers in the league and justifies his inclusion regardless of positional overlap.

CF: Haji Wright (Coventry City).

Haji Wright leads the line for this team following an outstanding season with Coventry. His physical presence, ability to stretch defences, and better finishing this season have made him the ideal striker for this team. Wright, a centre-forward, provides a combination of pace, power, and mobility. This enables him to function both centrally and in larger areas as needed. Wright’s overall effect and goal contributions this season give him the advantage over striking options that are sorely deficient at both Ipswich and Middlesbrough, where wingers and attacking midfielders score more. Wright’s status as the major goal threat makes him an appropriate candidate to lead the assault.