Nigel Clough: Burton Albion boss says they face a tough start in the Championship

Nigel Clough managed Derby County in the Championship for four years

Burton Albion face a daunting start to their first Championship campaign, according to boss Nigel Clough.

The Brewers begin the season with a trip to Nottingham Forest and also face Bristol City, Sheffield Wednesday, Blackburn and Derby County in August.

"The teams we're playing in this spell puts the size of the challenge we're facing into perspective," Clough said.

"You look through the fixtures and wonder where we're getting a point from sometimes, never mind a win."

Burton Albion have never played in the English second tier and have targeted players with Championship experience in the transfer window.

"It's the typical Championship, with possibly seven games in 20 days then 15 days off for the international break," Clough told BBC Radio Derby.

"It's important that we get off to good start [against Forest] on Saturday. It's impossible to predict, that's been the nature of the Championship over the last few seasons."

Meanwhile, 18-year-old midfielder Hamza Choudhury, who played 13 games during a three-month loan with the Brewers last season, is set to re-join the club on a season-long loan.