The international break is over and that can only mean one thing this weekend – the return of competitive football at the highest levels of the game.
The Championship will be roaring back into life with a number of intriguing sub-plots emerging in arguably the most competitive league around.
We’ve two early leaders who few would have expected at the top, whilst one side is still looking for their first victory after the opening five games.
Meanwhile we’ve got some of the promotion favourites floundering so far looking to get their season on track with last year’s promoted sides from League One largely impressing.
Established managers such as Rafa Benitez and Roberto Di Matteo are now well aware of what England’s second division is all about, but what can we expect from this weekend’s action?
Well here are five things to watch for in this weekend’s games…
Will Huddersfield and Fulham remain unbeaten?
Very few would have had these two pegged as the early pace-setters in the Championship but that’s how it’s gone so far.
Huddersfield sit atop of the league on 13 points after four wins and a draw and will be looking to continue in that form away at Yorkshire rivals Leeds United.
Meanwhile, Fulham are hot on their heels with eleven points and have a home game against Birmingham City to keep the pressure up.
Will Blackburn win at last?
Blackburn are the only side in the division yet to have won a game in a run of form that has left them with just one point from a possible 15.
Owen Coyle looks like he has his work cut out already to try and appease a disgruntled fan base at Ewood Park so a win against QPR at Loftus Road is of crucial importance.
It won’t be easy though, the Londoners are fifth in the league.
Can Sheffield Wednesday arrest their slide?
Last year’s play-off final runners up started with an opening weekend victory against Aston Villa but have failed to win a game since.
It’s a run of form the Owls need to sort out quickly if they want to avoid getting cut adrift from the top six so they’ll be aiming to do so this weekend at home to Wigan.
The Latics themselves only have one win to their name this season so it’s a big game for both to try and kick-start their campaigns.
Can Derby get back on track?
The Rams seem to go into every Championship season as one of the favourites for promotion but as yet it hasn’t clicked under new manager Nigel Pearson.
One win and two draws leaves them eighteenth in the table ahead of the Saturday evening game against Newcastle and whilst it’s going to be a tough test, there can be no better way for the team to mark their return with a victory over the Magpies.
Fallen giants face off
Wind back thirty odd years and you have a massive fixture so Sunday’s game will show just how far the two European Cup winners have sunk.
Villa have started life in their new surroundings slowly with just the one victory to their name so far whilst Forest have started brightly being just four points off the top.
The Villains will want to prove they’re good enough to go up though and will look to make a statement against Forest on Sunday afternoon.
