By Paul Fletcher

The scramble for Premiership places is on, with countless clubs in Division One believing football's holy grail is within reach.

The First Division is packed full of players who believe they should be plying their trade in the Premiership and boasts more than a fair share who have already made their mark in the top flight.

We spotlight a handful of players to keep an eye out for over the next nine months.

Paul Merson - Walsall

Merson - will he transform Walsall's fortunes?

Paul Merson, now 35, became the club's most high-profile signing when he joined from Portsmouth in July.

The former England international wanted to move to a club nearer his home and eventually agreed to joined the unfashionable Saddlers.

Merson has already won promotion to the Premiership with Middlesbrough and Portsmouth.

It will be interesting to see what sort of effect Merson has on Colin Lee's team.

Robert Earnshaw - Cardiff City

Earnshaw is a hero in Cardiff

The diminutive striker came through the ranks at his home-town club and is now a hero to the Bluebirds supporters.

Earnshaw boasts blistering pace and has matured as a footballer as his career has blossomed.

His fine form last season saw him rewarded with his first start in Wales colours, scoring the winner against Germany.

Cardiff, with Sam Hammam as supremo, are on a mission to reach the Premiership and Earnshaw is a pivotal cog in that process.

Rob Hulse - West Brom

Hulse is a product of Crewe's Academy

West Brom are expecting big things from Rob Hulse this season after paying Crewe �750,000 for the tall striker.

His departure from Crewe became inevitable once some of the division's wealthy clubs showed an interest.

Hulse, 23, will be competing with Lee Hughes, Jason Roberts, Scott Dobie and Danny Dichio for first-team football at the Hawthorns, but if he continues last season's form he should make his mark.

Yet another product of Crewe's famous Academy, Hulse was a central figure in the Railwaymen's promotion from Division Two last season, scoring 27 goals.

Anton Ferdinand - West Ham

Anton Ferdinand has a lot to live up to

When Anton Ferdinand signed professional forms for the Hammers as a 17-year-old his brother Rio was completing his �29.1m transfer from Leeds to Manchester United.

Comparisons with his elder brother are inevitable but, following Glen Johnson's recent transfer to Chelsea, Anton is expected to get the chance to make a name for himself as West Ham push for an instant return to the Premiership.

A product of the Hammers successful youth Academy, he can play either at left-back or in the centre of defence.

Lee Holmes - Derby County

Hardly anybody had heard of Lee Holmes when he made his debut for Derby County against Grimsby Town on Boxing Day 2002.

In the process, Holmes became the club's youngest-ever player at 15 years and 267 days.

Holmes had earned his chance on the back of a composed outing for the reserves a week earlier.

Shortly after his debut, Holmes became the youngest ever player in the FA Cup when came on as a substitute against Brentford.

The young left-winger found himself excelling in the reserves shortly afterwards but it will be interesting to see whether he can build upon last season's encouraging start when the new campaign starts.