A week of Championship firsts... what's at stake?

Ruben Selles will take charge of his first game as Hull City boss, while Mike Phelan has joined Plymouth as Wayne Rooney's assistant

The Christmas bells might be starting to jangle a little more heavily but so are the nerves in the Championship.

We are fast approaching the halfway stage of the season and the race for promotion, battle for survival and everything in between couldn't be tighter.

Another midweek round of fixtures is upon us and there are plenty of talking points.

Here are the biggest ones to look out for going into the games on Tuesday and Wednesday night.

Rooney reunited with Phelan

Mike Phelan and Wayne Rooney worked together at Manchester United

Plymouth Argyle's clash with Oxford at the weekend was postponed, meaning they are still waiting to right the wrongs of two consecutive heavy defeats at Norwich and Bristol City.

Boss Wayne Rooney said he told his squad some "home truths" after their poor recent form and has also now turned to a familiar face to help steady the ship.

He has been reunited with Mike Phelan who worked at Manchester United as assistant manager between 2008 and 2013 during Rooney's playing days.

Phelan was appointed as Plymouth's assistant head coach on Sunday and replaces Pete Shuttleworth who left the club by mutual consent.

Their first game in charge as a pair will come at home to 13th-placed Swansea City as Argyle look to climb out of the relegation zone. Can they help bring the former Red Devils magic to Home Park?

Battle at the bottom heating up

Talking of Plymouth... they are one of at least 11 teams currently embroiled in a relegation scrap.

Just six points separate Coventry in 14th from Hull City at the bottom - and six of those sides will go head-to-head in midweek.

Luton welcome Stoke, Preston travel to Cardiff and QPR take on Oxford at Loftus Road.

The Hoops and Portsmouth have both improved in recent weeks with each picking up two wins from their past three games.

But every other side in the bottom 10 is struggling for form and in desperate need of points to pull away from danger.

Selles' first game as Hull boss

Ruben Selles watched Hull City's 1-0 defeat to Blackburn from the stands on Saturday

One head coach who has a big job on his hands in the battle for survival is new Hull City boss Ruben Selles.

The Spaniard will take charge of the Tigers for the first time on Wednesday night after joining from League One side Reading.

It will be a tough start for Selles as Hull look to end a run of six straight defeats when they welcome promotion-chasing Watford.

Hull are without a win in their past 11 games (D3 L8) since they won three on the bounce between 20 September and 1 October - their only three victories so far this season.

Selles' new club are two points adrift of safety but have played one game more than Oxford, Cardiff and Plymouth - and two more than Portsmouth.

He will know only too well how big a job he has on his hands after watching his side lose 1-0 at home to Blackburn on Saturday.

Leeds welcome Boro in vital promotion clash

It's equally tight at the top of the Championship with the sides chasing promotion engaged in a long-running game of pass the parcel.

Sheffield United, Leeds United, Burnley and Sunderland have all exchanged places at the summit in recent weeks and only three points separate the top four.

Leeds take on Middlesbrough at Elland Road on Tuesday evening, who themselves are eyeing a return to the Premier League after winning four of their past six, scoring 19 goals in the process.

The Whites will go top with a win and could apply some pressure to the Blades who visit Millwall on Wednesday.

Will we see yet more hot potato at the top of the table this week?

Will West Brom end run of draws?

West Brom have drawn 10 of their past 11 matches

West Brom have been the draw kings so far this season with 11 games ending all square - the highest number of draws of any team in the division.

The Baggies are unbeaten in their previous 11 matches but, remarkably, 10 of those have been draws, with their only win in that time coming at Hull City on 10 November.

It means that after winning five of their opening six fixtures, Carlos Corberan's side have only won once since then.

That run has seen them slowly slip from the top of the table down to eighth following their most recent draw against Sheffield United on Sunday.

West Brom will aim to pick up victory and reignite their promotion push when they welcome Coventry to The Hawthorns on Wednesday evening.