1. Gary Neville is back
The Old Trafford shop-steward’s ready to return for Manchester United and England. If he can get a game for either, that is.

2.The North London Mexicans
Carlos Vela, 19, will fill in for the injured Eduardo at Arsenal. Up the Seven Sisters Road, his old mate Giovani dos Santos, also 19, will make an impact at Spurs.

“Big Phil” aka Luiz Felipe
Note to tabloid hacks: new Chelsea boss hates the nickname “Big Phil” Scolari. For the record, it should actually be “Luiz Felipe”. Not that anyone will take a blind bit of notice.

4. Pubescent refs
OK, not quite. But at just 25, Nuneaton’s Stuart Attwell shatters Mark Clattenburg’s record by becoming the youngest Premier League matchday official ever. He’s even 14 years younger than the oldest outfield player, Hull City’s 39-year-old striker, Dean Windass.

5. Point deductions
Luton Town start on –30 points in League Two, thanks to an excessive punishment for well documented financial problems. A target of 70pts just to stay out of the Blue Square hardly seems achievable.

New Guv’nors
While Paul Ince gets his big break at Blackburn, ex-Chelsea midfielder Roberto Di Matteo attempts to fill the Guv’nor’s boots at MK Dons, six years after retiring from football with an horrific leg injury.

7. Packed dugouts
Now there’s no excuse for Darren Fletcher not to make the Manchester United bench. The introduction of seven substitutes – instead of last season’s five – gives managers far more options.

8. Petr Cech’s form
From unbeatable to unreliable. The world’s best keeper, circa 2006, must rediscover his best days for Chelsea.

ITV - the new home of footie
Having blown their budget on live football, ITV will now be showing FA Cup, Champions League, Uefa Cup and England games in 2008-09, making it the new (unofficial) home of football. Meanwhile, BT Vision are showing free Prem games. Sweet.

10. The richest club in the world
QPR is now football’s most cash-rich club, thanks to the joint £22billion fortunes of their co-owners – F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone, steel magnate Lakshmi Mittal and businessman Flavio Briatore. They’re favourites for the Championship title, so Iain Dowie’s under pressure.

11. Annan Athletic
Making their league debut in the Scottish Third Division, after the expulsion of SPL basement boys Gretna for financial meltdown.

Inches Separating Pompey’s Peter Crouch (6ft 7in) and Jermain Defoe (5ft 7in). A classic big man/little man combo.

13. Cristiano Ronaldo
Injured until October, his eventual return to action is likely to be one of the moments of the season. Wherever it is…

14. Arsenal’s No14
Gunners youngster Theo Walcott has been handed Thierry Henry’s old Arsenal squad number for next season at the Emirates. Significant?

Teeny play- makers
Deco, Luka Modric, Cesc Fabregas; the current must-have accessory for any self-respecting Premier League side is a tiny footballing genius in the middle.

16. New fans
The Premier League welcomes Hull City and Stoke City supporters for the first time. And hopefully, for them at least, not the last…

17. Domestic Cups
Portsmouth (FA Cup) and Tottenham (Carling Cup) showed last term that domestic cup competitions can be won by a non-Big Fourer. Who’ll be the next to step up?

Samba strikers
Man City’s £18m Brazilian Jo goes up against Boro’s £12m Afonso Alves, competing for a place in their national side.

19. England’s No9
Michael Owen is over the mumps and finally fit, ready and raring to get back into the action. But can the diminutive Toon striker recapture his best, Anfield-esque form? And if not next season, when?

20. Fergie’s assistant Carlos Queiroz was
the brains behind Manchester United’s recent League and European Cup double. With him departing to become Portugal manager, will his replacement be able to cope?