Premier League relegation battle: Five factors that could yet determine who drops down to the Championship

As the Premier League hurtles towards a dramatic conclusion, the clubs at the bottom have a lot of work still to do

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Hull City pulling the plug on Charlie Austin

Weeks ahead of the 2013/14 season, following Hull City’s promotion to the Premier League, Steve Bruce was faced with a difficult decision.

The weight of that choice, over whether to ignore Charlie Austin’s long history of niggling injuries, could yet return to haunt him.

The Tigers enjoyed a landmark year back in the top flight, reaching the FA Cup final along the way, but their glass ceiling is usually bumped into all too often.

Nikica Jelavic, Shane Long and Abel Hernandez all arrived for considerable transfer outlays, but none have been able to fire Hull into the upper regions of the table. It is believed that Hull even had shirts printed with Austin's name and number waiting at the training ground.

Austin, on the other hand, soon joined Harry Redknapp at Queens Park Rangers where he scored 20 goals on their way to promotion. This season has seen the 25-year-old step up even further and he now has 17 top flight strikes to his name.

It may not necessarily be enough to keep Chris Ramsey’s men up but with Hull’s midfield options, it could have been the difference at the KC Stadium.

Sherwood making heroes of Villans

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When Paul Lambert, recently linked with the Borussia Dortmund job, left Aston Villa, the West Midlands club were languishing in 19th place.

The mood around the club had become toxic, form continued to plummet at an alarming rate and players like Christian Benteke were devoid of any confidence whatsoever. Enter Timothy Alan Sherwood.

Following his brief spell as Tottenham boss, Sherwood earned a reputation for getting the best out of players with undoubted ability but whom had shied away from the limelight.

Add a dash of youth to the equation, such as Jack Grealish and Nathan Baker, and you have a recipe for Premier League prosperity.

The FA Cup final lingers on the horizon and, if you ask Hull fans, can derail even the best of seasons. But Sherwood is a master in the art of motivation.

'He’s magic, you know, Esteban Cambiasso'

Eyebrows were raised in unison across the globe when former Real Madrid and Inter Milan midfielder Esteban Cambiasso chose Leicester City as his next destination.

The Champions League winning 34-year-old had been linked with lucrative moves to Lazio and Tottenham Hotspur, but was persuaded by Nigel Pearson to join the Foxes’ cause.

While many may have forgiven Cambiasso for lacking the stomach for the fight, with the East Midlands club only climbing off bottom this week for the first time since November, the Argentine has in fact been the stimulus for their renaissance.

Not just their most experienced player – and arguably their best – Cambiasso carries himself like a man who is ready to do battle.

Recently describing the prospect of keeping Leicester in the Premier League as ‘better than winning a trophy’, his presence around the place has been invaluable for Pearson.

Ings can only get better

Sean Dyche admits Burnley, now bottom of the Premier League after Leicester’s revival, are up against it.

They’ve fought the good fight for so long this season but it may just prove to be too steep a hurdle for them to leap.

Keeping Danny Ings, however, who attracted the interest of David Moyes at Real Sociedad in January, gives them the faintest glimmer of hope.

The 22-year-old has not found the net since February and, with the Foxes travelling to Turf Moor on Saturday, the time is now to step up.

But Ings has faced adversity before. Don’t bet against him firing Burnley to perhaps the most unlikely of survivals in Premier League history.

Have Black Cats used up all their lives?

The Sunderland tradition of firing and hiring in the final third of the season may just be wearing thin. Martin O’Neill was first tasked with fixing their woes after Steve Bruce’s tenure ended in acrimony.

Then came Paolo di Canio, as the euphoria of O’Neill’s arrival dwindled, until Gus Poyet saved the day last year. Quite remarkably, the pendulum swung once more this season. But has Dick Advocaat really got the heart to keep Sunderland up?

His arrival at the Stadium of Light harbours worrying similarities with Felix McGath’s ill-fated reign as Fulham boss last season.

Martin Jol and Rene Meulensteen could do little to prevent their freefall and McGath ultimately failed to complete his mission. The Black Cats may have used up all of their lives.