With just days to go before we release the unique code for the Official Crystal Palace Championship with Texaco Fantasy Football, we have persuaded Shaun to release his line up and explain to us the reasons behind his choices.

Just before he unveiled his team though we asked him whether, with the league just around the corner, he is looking forward to the start of the Texaco Fantasy Football:

"Yeah, without a doubt. I think it is a good idea really. It is a lighthearted affair but I am sure the supporters will want to put one over me, but if I can get a good start to my managerial career with the Texaco Fantasy Football I will be happy"

His line-up is a real mix from across the teams but there is one glaring omission - no Derry. Asked why, the Palace skipper revealed that it was a completely tactical decision:

"I had a look at myself and realised that I was graded a mark down on the rest of the Championship midfielders, hence why I have not put myself into the team!"

So, without a further ado, we bring you Shaun Derry's team:

Goalkeeper

Adriano Basso - Bristol City

"I thought that, perhaps not last season but the season before, he was up there as the League's best goalkeeper with Julian and I also think that Bristol City generally have a good home record. So I think he will pick me up points from clean sheets."

Defenders

Left Back -Jamie McAllister - Bristol City

"Again for the clean sheets and the home record, but  he is also an attack minded left back who comes up with the odd goal or two . I have generally gone for attacking minded players rather than going on the defensive and I am hoping to get points that way."

Centre Half - Sean St Ledger - Preston NE

"Preston did well last year. They had a decent home record and he came up with valuable goals and, for a centre half, he gets his fair quota."

Centre Half - Paddy McCarthy - Crystal Palace

"I have gone for Paddy because I think for the past couple of years we have been hard to beat and defensively we have been astute. Last year especially, Paddy was central to some of our best performances and I think he will have a good season this year."

Right Back - Angel Rangel - Swansea

"I am hoping he is not going to move because he has been touted as moving to Wigan and rejoining his old manager. But once again an attack minded full back who gets his fair share of goals and assists."

Midfielders

Centre Mid - Richie Wellens - Leicester

"They have just signed him for £1 million so I think he will be their main midfielder and will be playing week in week out. I have played against Richie in the past and he is a creative midfielder who again scores goals."

Centre Mid - Marek Matejovsky - Reading

"He was in and out of the team last year, but I think he might suit the new manager, Brendan Rogers, and his way of playing.

"He is a really creative player, likes to get on the ball a lot and I think he will be great for assists - especially when Reading play at home because they usually play with a lot of flair."

Winger - Adam Johnson - Middlesbrough

"I played with Adam when he came to Leeds on loan when he was only 18, 19. But he has got himself in the England U21s and I think he will be a real force especially in this division.

"I read some reports of him last year and he did well coming on from Stewart Downing and rumour has it that Middlesbrough fans rated him as good as Downing. So, if he can reproduce that at this level I think he will be a really good winger for me."

Winger - Darren Ambrose - Crystal Palace

"I think Darren has shown in pre-season that he is quite an attack minded player, but he also has the ability to fill in defensively if and when needed.

"Hopefully we are going to be hard to break down and Darren will be crucial for us in that respect but we will also be looking to him to score some goals. He will be on a lot of the free kicks and corners and hopefully he will get his fair share of  points that way."

Forwards

Striker - Rob Hulse - Derby

"Hulse is a big target man. I played with him at Leeds and he scored a lot of goals there. He has scored goals wherever he has been. Last year Derby struggled, but he was one of their top goalscorers and he was out injured a lot  so I think at full fitness he will be one of the top target men in the division.

Striker - Michael Chopra - Cardiff

"I have gone for Chopra because I think Cardiff have signed some good players and are looking good for this season.

"And with Chopra he scores a lot of goals at home so I have also doubled him up as my captain looking ahead to him being my top goalscorer."

So that is Crystal Palace skipper Shaun Derry's team. He is ready. The question now is: Are you?

You have until 9am on Friday 7th August to register with Texaco Fantasy Football before we release the unique code for the Official Crystal Palace Championship right here on www.cpfc.co.uk.

To find out more about the league and to register your team, click here.