Any new Premier League season is always greeted with an equal amount of excitement and relief that the dark days of summer are finally over, but for a few teams the reality of a relegation battle will set in pretty quick and for one or two it could prove a long season this time around. Attention always turns to the three promoted teams when we start to look at potential relegation candidates for the following season, and this year will be no different with Newcastle, West Brom and Blackpool all fighting for that coveted 4th from bottom spot this year.

Newcastle are of course the interesting team after they secured their return to the top flight last season, Chris Hughton did a fantastic job in steadying the ship at St James Park but he faces an even bigger task back in the Premier League. On paper they should have a good enough squad to finish ahead of three other teams, the worry for Hughton will be where the goals are going to come from in his squad. Andy Carroll is well thought of in the game and he will need to realise his potential and chip in with his fare share, if he and the team can do that they should have too much to be relegated once again.

West Brom are the very definition of a yo-yo team, they have been bouncing between the Championship and the Premier League for some time now and looking at the current squad it could be déjà vu for the Baggies faithful once again and are currently favourites to makea  quick returns in the Premier League Relegations odds. Under Roberto Di Matteo they had a good season in the Championship to win promotion but they will need more than a good passing game to stay in the Premier League. The problem they have faced in the past is their lack of fire power and looking at their current squad it could once again prove to be their achillies heel, without a man to score 15-20 goals for them they are likely to concede too many at the back leaving them with an uphill task.

Ian Holloway has done a remarkable job to take his un-fancied Blackpool team into the Premier League, but if he were he to keep the club in the top flight it would be a far more remarkable feat for the likeable Manager. It is hard to see it happening though for Blackpool at this level with the squad looking distinctly thin on the ground in terms of Premier League class or experience. Much like Burnley last season they are likely to start the season with lots of fight and bravery but their lack of quality will gradually start to see them slip towards the trap door.

Outside of the promoted teams there will no doubt be one or two of the established clubs slipping towards the drop zone, the betting is telling us that Wolves and Mick McCarthy should be looking anxiously over their shoulders. The team from Molineux did well last season to stay up and should be able to match that this time around, in Kevin Doyle they have a top striker who can hit the back of the net when they most need and at home they will be tough to beat. Wigan are an interesting team this year after having a decent if unspectacular season last time, they look slightly thin on the ground in terms of class and will need to be very careful indeed this term. Roberto Martinez is a well respected young Manager but he faces a tough battle to improve the squad, they will need to get some early points on the board to build some momentum otherwise they could be in for a tough slog this season.

The relegation battle for the 2010/11 Premier League season could well prove just as fascinating as the title race for fans and punters over the next few months, any number of teams can be dragged into the drop zone making for an exciting campaign for the neutral. As it is though it looks as though Blackpool and West Brom will be heading back to the Championship pretty sharpish, the third spot is less clear cut but it is Wigan who are looking the most vulnerable as we approach the start of the season.