Premier League Preview: Cardiff

Having been the nearly-team for so many years, Cardiff finally gained the promotion to the Premier League that they deserved. Malky Mackay will take confidence going into the season after watching newly promoted sides succeed in recent seasons, notably Southampton and West Ham last year.

That said, the aim for Mackay's side in their first season in the top flight in 51 years will be to avoid relegation. Their transfer activity has reflected this aim with £17 million spent on players in the close season, including Steven Caulker, and their squad holds more members with Premier League experience, in particular, none other than Craig Bellamy.

Malky Mackay is the only manager from the three promoted sides not to have managed in the Premier League before so the experience is as new for him as it is for his team. We will have to see whether this will be a help or a hindrance. However of the three teams to come up they seem to have the largest squad depth and are perhaps the least likely to go straight back down. That said, with the Premier League standard going from strength-to-strength, its going to be a long, hard season for Cardiff.

Key Player: Peter Whittingham - Cardiff's playmaker has been instrumental throughout the seven years he has been at the club. Whittingham has been regularly linked to Premier League clubs and now is his time to show what he can do in the top tier. His creativity in midfield will certainly give Cardiff a chance of staying up.

One to Watch: Frazier Campbell - Campbell joined Cardiff in January and scored seven goals in twelve games during the second half of the season. With Premier League experience at Manchester United, Tottenham and Sunderland, Campbell gets another chance to prove himself on the big stage.

Best Summer Signing: Andreas Cornelius - Whilst Steven Caulker is a fantastic signing, it was the purchase of relatively unknown Dane, Cornelius that caught my eye. With seven international caps already and hugely popular with the fans at his last club, FC Copenhagen, it will be interesting to watch the development of the young striker.

Last Season: 1st (Championship, Promoted)

Pre-Season Prediction: 17th - A tough season will see them narrowly avoid the drop.