Championship team of the season so far – Wolves dominate after flying start but who else makes the cut?

NUNO ESPIRITO SANTO’S Golden Boys have dominated this season.

And, surprise, surprise, they do so again in my Championship team of the season so far.

After Boxing Day’s round of fixtures, we are now past the halfway point in the second-tier marathon.

So I thought it would be a fitting time to have some fun and pick an XI of players who I think have shone brightest this term.

In goal there is John Ruddy, one of SIX Wolves players selected and just nicking it ahead of Aston Villa’s Man Utd loanee Sam Johnstone.

One-time England stopper Ruddy looked at a career crossroads after being released by Norwich in the summer.

But after being snapped by Wanderers who needed a keeper following Carl Ikeme’s heartbreaking leukaemia diagnosis, the 31-year-old has proven his class all over again with some telling contributions such as the 2-0 win at Reading.

He has conceded the joint fewest goals in the league but of course that is also down to the rest of his backline and for that reason Willy Boly and Barry Douglas make it in there.

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The pair actually play in Nuno’s successful 3-4-3 formation, with man mountain Boly left-side of a three-man defence and set-piece magician Douglas next to him at left wing-back.

Conor Coady can consider himself unfortunate to miss out but to avoid picking just the Wolves team I’ve opted for Bristol City’s Aden Flint to partner Boly.

The 6ft5ins defender was close to leaving in the summer and admitted his head had been turned, but he returned the team seamlessly and as prolific as ever, with six goals to his name this term.

And to complete the back four I have crowbarred in Cardiff’s Sol Bamba, who in fairness has filled in all over the pitch for the high-flying Bluebirds this term.

Neil Warnock recently claimed he would not swap “colossus” Bamba with any player even in the Premier League and it has been amazing watching his post-Leeds renaissance.

Matt Doherty can feel hard done-by for his snub after an excellent campaign, while Bamba’s team-mate Bruno Ecuele Manga and John Terry before his injury have been top notch too.

Ruben Neves adds star quality in the midfield just as he does for Wolves.

Yes, the Portuguese maestro did cost £15million, but he is only 20, new to English football and recently became a father which when all factored in makes his impact nothing short of sensational.

There is not much between the players vying to line up alongside him, with Cardiff’s Joe Ralls, Bristol’s Josh Brownhill and Brentford’s Ryan Woods all very impressive.

Paul Coutts would be there were it not his season being cut short by injury and you only have to look at how Sheffield United have dropped off since to see his contribution.

But I’m going for Joe Ledley. The bearded Welshman was remarkably still without a club until late September, despite a long career in the Championship, Premier League and SPL with numerous international caps.

Eventually Derby snapped up the 30-year-old and it has proved a masterstroke from Gary Rowett, as Ledley has lost just one of his 14 league games and helped the Rams fly up the table.

In the No10 position, it has to be Matej Vydra, despite Leeds’ Spanish sizzler Samu Saiz. Derby man Vydra was flop of the season last term but now cannot stop scoring.

Ivan Cavaleiro edges out Villa’s Albert Adomah on the right flank, while his Portuguese compatriot Diogo Jota is deployed out left and is my player of the season so far.

Leo Bonatini has been unbelievable but Leon Clarke’s transition from veteran journeyman of 17 clubs to the Championship’s most-feared forward simply cannot be ignored.

In the dugout, Lee Johnson, Chris Wilder, Alex Neil, Warnock and Rowett have excelled, while Phil Parkinson and Nigel Clough continue to fight against the odds down the bottom.

But for proving you CAN dominate the Championship playing sexy football – in my opinion, the finest the second tier has ever seen – Nuno is the only choice.