Top of the League Two Pops 2014/15

Ahead of the new campaign, Benny has selected the best signings of the summer and who to look out for in League Two this season.

Whilst writing this article I gave myself one rule – no Wycombe players! I’m biased.

1. Jon McLAUGHLIN
Burton Albion
The 26-year-old goalkeeper was surprisingly released by League One Bradford City this summer. He made himself their regular no.1 two years after fighting it out with former Wanderers loanee Matt Duke. Bantams boss Phil Parkinson must have had some kind of brain freeze to let him go and their loss is the Brewers gain. Manager Gary Rowett moved quickly to sign the glovesman on a one-year deal and he is likely to replace Dean Lyness after his catastrophic mistake in the League Two play-off final which saw them beaten 1-0 by Fleetwood Town at Wembley in May. McLaughlin is not only a fine shot-stopper but commands his penalty area with aplomb and must be a joy for his defenders ahead of him.

2. Ronnie HENRY
Stevenage
The 30-year-old right-back led former club Luton Town to the Conference Premier title as Captain last season. He rather surprisingly rejected a new deal with the Hatters to return to his former club Stevenage. Manager Graham Westley will be delighted to have been reacquainted with Henry as he knows exactly what he is getting. Henry joined Borough back in January 2005 following a brief spell with the now defunct Dublin City and soon became a regular in the side. He proved to be versatile too, switching into a central midfield position, but his best displays came at right-back where he was an integral part of the side that won back-to-back promotions from the Conference Premier to League One in 2010 and 2011. After two years with Luton Town he has returned to his spiritual home and is likely to be one of the outstanding performers in League Two this season.

3. Chris HUSSEY
Bury
The 25-year-old left-back, who can also play on the left wing, has rejoined Bury on a permanent deal this summer. He originally joined on loan from Burton Albion last season and made an immediate impact with his delivery from set-pieces which bears comparison with a certain Steve Guppy! He is a product of the AFC Wimbledon youth system and after breaking into the first team, his performances earned him a move to Coventry City. After three years with the Sky Blues he returned to the Dons before then moving to the Brewers. He made a great start to last season in a more attacking role before surprisingly being allowed to join Bury on a temporary basis. His displays for the Shakers helped them climb away from a relegation battle last season, and having returned on a two-year deal, is likely to be pivotal in any promotion challenge this time around.

4. Carl McHUGH
Plymouth Argyle
The 21-year-old left-sided central defender made his name as part of the Bradford City side that saw off both Arsenal and Aston Villa to reach the League Cup final in 2013. Originally from County Donegal he came through the Reading youth system before being released in 2012. Bantams boss Phil Parkinson snapped him up after a successful trial and he put in some impressive performances at both left-back and in the centre of defence. He signed a new one-year deal last summer but was unable to establish himself as a regular in the side and left the Yorkshire club at the end of last season. He was soon signed by Plymouth Argyle boss John Sheridan, who handed him a two-year deal with the Devon side, and he is likely to form part of a string central defensive partnership with Peter Hartley this season.

5. Luke WILKINSON
Luton Town
The 22-year-old central defender is set to put his career back on track after a disappointing 2013/14 campaign. He started off at Bristol City but was snapped up by Portsmouth after being released early. He moved to Dagenham and Redbridge in the summer of 2010 as an 18-year-old where he linked up with manager John Still for the first time. He spent some time out on loan before making his first team debut for the Daggers in September 2012 and soon established himself in the side where he received rave reviews with some impressive performances. Still`s departure to Luton Town was followed by a groin injury which disrupted his start to last season. Wayne Burnett never seemed to fancy him even when he was fit and during the close season he made the switch to Kenilworth Road for an undisclosed fee. He is likely to be a big player of the Hatters this season.

6. Luke SUMMERFIELD
York City
The 26-year-old central midfielder is an impressive capture for Nigel Worthington and York City. The Devon born playmaker came through the youth system at Plymouth Argyle and established himself in the first team in the 2006/07 season whilst the Pilgrims were competing in the Championship. He left to sign for Cheltenham Town in the summer of 2011 and after an impressive campaign, rejected a new deal to join League One Shrewsbury Town. He spent two years at the New Meadow before being one of a number of players to be released this summer despite having put in some fine performances (see also Joe Jacobson). The Shrews loss is most certainly York City`s gain and he will bring a new dimension to the Minstermen`s midfield this season alongside the likes of Russell Penn.

7. James WESOLOWSKI
Shrewsbury Town
The Aussie-born midfielder turns 27 at the end of this month and moved to England back in 2002 to join the youth academy at Leicester City. His development with the Foxes was disrupted after twice suffering a broken leg, the second time coming in February 2006, just a month after making his first team debut. He left in the summer of 2010 to join Peterborough United and after spending a year at London Road, he signed for Oldham Athletic. His first goal for the Latics came in a 2-0 win over the Chairboys at Boundary Park in October 2011. He rejected a new deal this summer to sign for Shrewsbury Town as part of manager Micky Mellon`s revolution and is set to be one of the Salopians most important captures.

8. Yan KLUKOWSKI
Newport County
The 27-year-old goalscoring midfielder has to be one of the most exciting signings of the summer. Born in Chippenham, he moved to the United States in the summer of 2005 after accepting a football scholarship with Central Connecticut State University. During his four years across the pond he was voted Rookie of the Year but despite trials at Carlisle United and Swindon he was unable to secure a professional deal when he returned in 2009. His perseverance finally paid off a year later when he signed for Forest Green Rovers and soon established himself as a driving force in the middle of the park. He scored an incredible 49 goals from 160 league appearances in four years with the Nailsworth club. This summer he rejected the offer of a new deal and was snapped up by Newport County boss Justin Edinburgh, on a two-year contract. He is about to become a crowd favourite at Rodney Parade and expect to see him shining on the Football League show.

9. Kwesi APPIAH
Cambridge United
The 23-year-old London-born striker is set to be unleashed on League Two again this season. He came through the youth system at Ebbsfleet United although left under something of a cloud in October 2008 to sign for Peterborough United. He impressed when out on loan at non-league clubs but was unable to establish himself with the Posh. His best spell came in the 2011/12 season when scored 35 goals in 33 league games for Margate and it prompted Crystal Palace to sign him up. He joined Cambridge United on loan for the first half of last season and notched ten goals in 14 games. He failed to score in another loan at Notts County before impressing in a loan spell at AFC Wimbledon at the end of the campaign. He has rejoined manager Richard Money at the Abbey Stadium for another six month loan and with a combination of both pace and power, expect him to score goals for the U`s.

10. James ROBERTS
Oxford United
This is perhaps the most outrageous inclusion on the list. For starters James Roberts only turned 18 in June. He has just come through the youth academy at Oxford United and has signed his first professional contract this summer. The teenager does have immense potential to become a prolific goalscorer. His time with the U`s has seen him score goal after goal after goal. He has that cold, lethal instinct of a natural goalscorer and was nominated as one of the Football League’s best 11 under-18 players back in March. He has been leading goalscorer for the Under-18 side for the last two seasons and has been scoring goals for fun in pre-season. He could just be the answer to boss Michael Appleton`s attacking problems following the departure of James Constable and the retirement of Dave Kitson this summer.

11. Jamie DEVITT
Morecambe
The 24-year-old Dublin-born winger has been full of promise ever since he joined Hull City`s youth academy. He turned professional in 2008 and made 16 first team appearances but was unable to consolidate his place in the side. It probably didn`t help being sent out on loan at half-a-dozen clubs during five years with the Tigers. He impressed whilst at Grimsby Town but was finally released by Steve Bruce last summer. He joined Chesterfield after a successful trial but was unable to force his way into the team, not least due to Gary Roberts impressive displays on the wing. He went out on loan to Morecambe in January and immediately made an impression. He can play on both wings but is definitely more effective on the right, where his trickery is usually followed by some wicked crosses into the box. He joined the Shrimps permanently this summer on a two-year deal and this should be his year to shine.

Also keep an eye out for the following ex-Chairboys in League Two next season.

First up is an opening day meeting with Newport County at Rodney Parade where we shall renew acquaintances with defender Andy Sandell, who has just been appointed captain, and winger Chris Zebroski, who was voted player of the season last year.

The trip to the New Den for the League Cup tie with Millwall will see us face former loan goalkeeper Stephen Bywater and the goalscorer of one of our most famous goals in striker Jermaine Easter.

Goalkeeper Sam Beasant was once part of the youth system at Adams Park and he is likely to be on the bench for Stevenage when we visit Broadhall Way in August.

York City hold the record for the most ex-Chairboys in their squad with no less than half-a-dozen! Goalkeeper Jason Mooney, defenders Marvin McCoy and Dave Winfield, midfielder Lewis Montrose, loan wingerAnthony Straker and one-time trialist striker Jake Hyde are all likely to be involved at Bootham Crescent at the end of the month.

Former loan striker Reuben Reid will lead the line for Plymouth Argyle when the Blues make the midweek trip to Home Park in mid-September.

One-time loan goalkeepers Matt Duke and Jordan Archer and winger Chris Hackett could be involved for Northampton Town when they visit Adams Park at the beginning of October.

A fortnight later defender Alan Bennett, midfielder Dannie Bulman and former loan striker Adebayo Azeez return to Adams Park with AFC Wimbledon.

Defender Craig Woodman is likely to be in the Exeter City side again when the Wanderers return for another midweek visit to St James Park in mid-October.

Former loan striker Ashley Chambers will be back at Adams Park with Dagenham and Redbridge at the end of October.

The middle of November sees midfielder John Mousinho and the return of striker Stuart Beavon to Adams Park with Burton Albion.

One-time loan defender Adam Thompson could be in the Southend United side when they visit Adams Park in mid-December.

Last but not necessarily least, former loan goalkeeper Iain Turner and loan defender Jordan Mustoe will both be hoping to have earned deals at Accrington Stanley following trials this summer to face the Chairboys just five days before Christmas.