London: West Ham, Southampton and Reading are returning to the Premier League in the hope that their good form last season and a busy spell in the transfer market will keep them in the topflight for more than just nine months.
West Ham is back after a one-year absence, securing promotion with a 2-1 play-off final victory against Blackpool at Wembley.
Coach Sam Allardyce will be able to draw on a wealth of Premier League experience. However, West Ham fans will be hoping he replicates his success with Bolton - regularly keeping the unfashionable club in the top of the half of the table and even taking it into Europe - rather than his time with Newcastle and Blackburn.
It would certainly answer critics of Allardyce's direct style of play, which contrasts with the club's long-standing reputation for producing ball-playing teams.
Allardyce's moves in the transfer window have included Mali striker Modibo Maiga, who scored 24 goals in 52 games for French club Sochaux, and goalkeeper Jussi Jaaskelainen, who played under Allardyce at Bolton. The Finnish keeper replaces England international Robert Green, who has moved to Queens Park Rangers.
Captain Kevin Nolan is proven at Premier League level, as is his usual partner in the center of midfield, Mark Noble. Central defender James Tomkins represented Great Britain at the Olympics and fellow defender Guy Demel is a regular for Ivory Coast.
"This year is going to be about consolidating and making sure we're there for the season after," Nolan said. "It's so nice that we got our reward last year and I'm really looking forward to that first day back in the Premier League."
Southampton ended seven years away from the top flight by finishing second to Reading last season.
Financial trouble saw the south coast side drop down to the third tier before new owners took control and appointed Nigel Adkins as coach, who oversaw back-to-back promotions.
While signings such as defender Nathaniel Clyne from Crystal Palace and forward Jay Rodriguez from Burnley will excite fans, striker Rickie Lambert, who scored 31 goals in 48 games last season, is the man expected to lead Southampton to safety.
Another key player could be 24-year-old winger Adam Lallana, the latest product of a thriving youth academy that has produced the likes of Gareth Bale, Theo Walcott and Alex-Oxlade Chamberlain.
Lallana and Lambert were instrumental in the two promotions and should rise to the challenge of Premier League football. A sensational run of form by Reading in the second half of last season saw the team record 15 victories in its last 17 matches on the way to wining the League Championship.
Coach Brian McDermott, who has been in charge since October 2010, has wasted no time in strengthening his side, with the most notable acquisition being Pavel Pogrebnyak from Stuttgart.
The 28-year-old Russia striker was on loan at Fulham for the second half of last season, scoring six times in 12 games. McDermott's other additions include midfielder Danny Guthrie, signed from Newcastle, and defender Nicky Shorey, who has rejoined the club from West Bromwich Albion.
Reading begins its Premier League campaign at home to Stoke City, West Ham face Aston Villa at Upton Park and Southampton face the daunting task of facing defending champion Manchester City at Eastlands.
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