With the 2009 edition of Championship Manager just around the corner, I thought I would share with you a few players that I think may turn out to be the stars of the game.

Although its impossible to second guess the guys at Beautiful Games Studios and Eidos, the current footballing year has seen a few players step into the limelight. As the best and most realistic football manager simulation on the market, I would expect Championship Manager 2010 to reflect this.

The ‘Russian Ronaldinho’ as he is affectionately known in his homeland, Zhirkov is noted for his skill, dribbling and creativity. His predominant position is as an attacking left winger but he can also play as a left back. He played a major role in his countries progress to the semi-finals of Euro 2008 and was named in the team of the tournament. His rise to prominence has lead to a vast amount of transfer speculation, with Chelsea, owned by Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich, said to be keen on bringing him to Stamford Bridge

Benzema is without a doubt one of the stars of the French Ligue 1 and is one of the hottest properties in French football. Playing as an out and out striker for French champions Lyon, he has topped the wish list of many a European club with his strength, pace and finishing ability. Most recently, attracting interest from Manchester United and Chelsea, as well as vocalising his desire to one day play for Spanish giants Real Madrid.

Veloso is a well rounded defensive midfielder who has really risen to prominence with Sporting in recent years. Heralded for his passing, creativity and strength, he made a major impact for Sporting in a Champions League victory over Inter Milan in 2007. As yet, he is still to establish himself as a first team regular in the Portuguese national team but did make his debut in a Euro 2008 qualifier against Azerbaijan.

Joao Moutinho   
CM 2008 Present | 2014

Moutinho is a versatile player who can play anywhere along the midfield unit. He made his international debut for Portugal in a friendly against Egypt in 2005 and has also gone on to become one of the youngest captains in Sporting's history, at the age of just nineteen. He has been persistently linked with a move away from the Portuguese club, with Everton reported to be willing to break their transfer record to bring him to Goodison Park.

Having had loan spells at both Watford and Sheffield Wednesday, Agbonlahor's awesome pace and finishing ability has catapulted him into the limelight at Aston Villa this season. Having had a flirtation with the Nigerian team, Agbonlahor declared his allegiance to the England national side and he was duly rewarded as he made his debut in the showpiece friendly against Germany at Wembley, having a goal disallowed in the process. He has a good chance of making Fabio Capello's twenty-three man squad for the World Cup finals in South Africa in a years time. Whilst his talented is undoubted, his form and dedication will go a long way in proving whether he is worthy of selection.

Rakitic is one of the rising stars of Croatian football, despite being born in Switzerland, he is a full international for the Croatian national side. An attacking midfielder who plays for German side Schalke, Rakitic played a key role in his countries progress to the quarter finals of Euro 2008. At 21 and with six goals in twenty one international appearances, he is beginning to attract the interest of some of Europe's biggest clubs, with Juventus reported to see his as a long term replacement for Pavel Nedved.

Fleck is highly regarded at Ibrox as one of the stand out players of a prodigious academy. He is a player in the 'Wayne Rooney mould' who made his debut for the Glasgow club at the age of just sixteen and later went on to score his first goal in a league match against Dundee United in 2008. Such is his talent, he is rumoured to be attracting interest from Rooney's own club, Manchester United.

Kyle Naughton   
CM 2008 Present | 2014

Naughton is the latest in a long line of talents to come through the Blades' academy. He is a right back in the 'Ashley Cole mould' who can also operate in the attacking third. Having been on loan at doomed Scottish club Gretna, he made his debut for United in a victory over Watford, gaining the man of the match award in the process. He has made the right back spot his own since and has also figured in Stuart Pearce's England under 21 side, making his debut against the Czech Republic. Such has been his form this season that he has been attracting interest form a host of Premier League clubs, including Manchester City, Everton and Aston Villa.

The tall central defender has become a linchpin of the Wednesday defence ever since putting in a man of the match performance in a 2-0 defeat against Leicester in 2007. He has gone on to make his England under 19 debut against Croatia and was also voted the Owls' fans player of the year in 2008. He has played a major role in a solid campaign for Wednesday in 2009, whilst also attracting interest from both Chelsea and Newcastle.

Delph is a product of the Leeds United academy and is considered to be one of the hottest properties outside of the top flight. He made his league debut for Leeds on the final day of the 2007 Championship season, shortly after the club had gone into administration. He scored his first goal for the club the following season in a 5-2 victory over Crewe and has gone on to become a mainstay in the League One sides midfield. Such has been his form that he was called up to Stuart Pearce's England under 21 side and made his debut as a second half substitute in a victory over the Czech Republic. Although he has thus far remained loyal to the Yorkshire club, a lot will depend on their ambition and success as to whether he remains at Elland Road, with a host of Premier League clubs - including Manchester United, Liverpool and Arsenal, reported to be interested in his signature.