Alan Shearer Exclusive: Maresca's near-impossible task, Wrexham and the Championship promotion race

Maresca faces an almost impossible task following Pep at Man City

I guess that Man City have known for a while that Enzo Maresca coming in was going to happen, the chief executives and the owners. I don't think that Pep Guardiola would have just sprung it on them with two weeks to go and said he's leaving.

They would have had time to work on who they were going to get and why they were going to get him. It is an incredibly tough act to follow with Pep, maybe almost impossible, because of what he has achieved.

We saw when Sir Alex left Man Utd what happened to the managers and maybe not even still recover, so it is going to be very, very difficult for City and Maresca. A brave man goes in there, but he has the opportunity to work with some of the best players and put City back to the top of the league, but it is going to be a big ask.

It is a brave decision by him and City, I guess he goes in there with Pep's endorsement as well, it wouldn't surprise me if he is the one that Pep recommended as he has worked with him before but bloody hell, it is a tough act to follow.

Ayyoub Bouaddi will be on plenty of Premier League clubs' radars

In the first game the young boy, Ayyoub Bouaddi for Morocco - I think he is only 18 - I thought he was outstanding and I guess clubs have already watched him, but every game he plays, his price will go up because he looks like a real talent.

I would love to see Middlesbrough, Blackburn, and Southampton back in the Premier League

The teams that were relegated to the Championship can go straight back up but whether all three will, I am not quite sure. It looks a bit of a mess to me at Wolves with what has gone on recently, it will be a tough ask for them to come back up.

We have seen, and history will tell us, they are more well-equipped than the other teams already in that league, but we also know it is a bloody tough league to get out from. I'd be surprised if all three came back up.

I would genuinely like to see Middlesbrough come up because I think to have three north-east derbies would be great for the area and that would be the only reason I would want Middlesbrough to come up. 

I have no other affection for any of the other teams other than Blackburn, but I don't see them having a promotion push at all. They flirted with relegation again last season, but it is not the club it once was when I was there many years ago.

If there were two clubs, without doubt Blackburn and Southampton, even with the situation that got messy for Saints last season but my two former clubs I would love to see come up as well as Middlesbrough. 

It would not surprise me if Wrexham were promoted to the Premier League next season

Wrexham nearly got into the play offs to give them a chance of getting promoted again last season, they were pushing and pushing but it is a remarkable story what has happened there.

The answer is yes I think they can get promoted to the Premier League this season, it wouldn't surprise me with the ambition and drive of the owners if they continue to go in that way then it wouldn't surprise me at all if they were to have another push and get up there.

Now read our latest World Cup tips and previews here