Their first season back in the top flight was undoubtedly a remarkable one for Martin O'Neill's outfit, but there remains little room for complacency as they head into the new campaign.
A powerful midfield and Steve Claridge's ability to cause havoc around the box went a long way towards winning them the League Cup and a place in the top half of the table but they are dangerously reliant on two or three key players, most notably Emile Heskey (pictured), and their failure to perform early on could prompt a very diferent sort of season this time around.
Manager: Martin O'Neill.
In: Rob Savage (from Crewe) £500,000.
Out: Simon Grayson (to Aston Villa) £1.35million, Jamie Lawrence (to Bradford City) £50,000, Neil Lewis (to Peterborough) free.
Last Season: Ninth. FA Cup: Fifth round. Coca-Cola Cup: Winners.
Betting: 250 to 1.
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