Five EFL managers with Premier League futures, including Michael Duff and Wayne Rooney

Lowe led Bury to promotion from League Two in 2018/19, but the ownership issues at Gigg Lane meant the Shakers were expelled from the EFL prior to the following campaign.

Argyle finished 18th in League One with a lack of experience at the back proving their Achilles heel, but smart additions saw Lowe turn the Devoners into promotion contenders this year, before being poached by North End.

Jones laid the template for Luton's rise to the second tier with a 4-4-2 diamond system with a rotating midfield quartet and extremely attacking full-backs, notably Jack Stacey and James Justin in 2018/19 - now at Bournemouth and Leicester, respectively.

The demanding Welshman was not the man to ultimately take them into the Championship, having jumped ship to Stoke that season, leaving Mick Harford to finish the job. However, after his stint in the Potteries didn't work out, he returned to Kenilworth Road during the lockdown period in 2019/20.

After a top-half finish in 2020/21, the Hatters are now tantalisingly close to tying up a play-off spot, and could be about to secure a dream promotion to the Premier League.

Duff started his reign in autumn 2018 with an eight-game winless streak, but impeccable home form thereon saw him steer the club to a safe, 15th-placed finish.

That became the basis of their promotion challenges in the next two seasons. And, while 2019/20 ended in play-off heartache, with the Robins losing to Northampton despite leading by two goals after the away leg, they stormed back to take the title the following season.

With a wife and family settled in Cheltenham, it would take a big offer for Duff to move - however tempting Burnley might seem theoretically - and a more likely next step might be a Championship