• Promotion hopefuls Coventry host Hull

• Recently-promoted Charlton face Watford

• Birmingham entertain Ipswich in season-opener on Friday

The Championship is back this weekend with a full set of exciting fixtures to keep fans entertained.

Here, we look ahead to some of the big games in the first week, picking out some key team news.

Birmingham vs Ipswich (Friday, 8pm)

Newly-promoted Birmingham face recently-relegated Ipswich at St Andrew's on Friday and blues midfielders Scott Wright and Kyogo Furuhashi are set to miss out due to injuries, but new signings Bright Osayi-Samuel, Phil Neumann, Tommy Doyle and Demarai Gray are all hoping to start.

Ipswich defender Conor Townsend recently suffered an ACL injury in a friendly against Auxerre and he is expected to miss the majority of the season.

Harry Clarke and Wes Burns have already been ruled out for the Tractor Boys with injury, while Leif Davis and Jaden Philogene will need to pass fitness tests in order to feature.

Charlton vs Watford (Saturday, 12.30pm)

Charlton will look to make a statement in their first game back in the Championship for five years when they welcome Waford to The Valley.

Addicks coach Nathan Jones is set to hand new goalkeeper Thomas Kaminski his debut, while summer signings Charlie Kelman, Rob Apter, Harvey Knibbs and Tanto Olaofe are all hoping to feature.

Meanwhile, Watford's trio of new signings, Luca Kjerrumgaard, Hector Kyprianou and Marc Bola, are all expected to start, but Mattie Pollock is set to miss out after suffering an injury in the recent friendly with Deportivo La Coruna.

Coventry vs Hull (Saturday, 12.30pm)

Coventry striker Haji Wright is expected to feature after overcoming an Achilles injury, while midfielder Jack Rudoni is also set to start, despite managing a calf problem in recent weeks.

Summer signing Kaine Kesler-Hayden is also set to make his debut after his move from Aston Villa.

Hull coach Sergej Jakirovic recently added Oli McBurnie and Enis Destan to his squad, but the latter is set to watch from the sidelines as he is still dealing with a ligament issue he picked up in May while playing for Trabzonspor.

Southampton vs Wrexham (Saturday, 12.30pm)

After Aaron Ramsdale left to join Newcastle in midweek, Alex McCarthy and Gavin Bazunu will fight it out to start in goal for Southampton.

Midfielder Tyler Dibling is training away from the first team as he continues to be linked with a summer transfer. 

Saints trio Taylor Harwood-Bellis, Will Smallbone and Flynn Downes are all set to miss the opening encounter.

Wrexham will look to hand debuts to Lewis O'Brien, Conor Coady, Josh Windass and Liberato Cacace.

Middlesbrough vs Swansea (Saturday, 3pm)

Middlesbrough coach Rob Edwards is expected to be without six first-team players due to injury, with Darragh Lenihan added to the list after he missed the recent friendly against Deportivo La Coruna.

Goalkeeper Seny Dieng is still sidelined with an Achilles issue, so Sol Brynn should start in goal. Alex Bangura, George Edmundson, Finn Azaz and Riley McGree are also sidelined.

Swansea striker Zan Vipotnik is hoping to recover from a toe injury, but captain Ben Cabango is a few weeks behind schedule after missing several pre-season matches.