Five things to look out for as Championship returns in EFL

Kieran McKenna, right, is the only manager of the relegated Premier League teams to have been boss during their Championship campaign

The Championship returns on Friday, and with it, some new rivalries to ignite.

The second tier's opening weekend kicks off with a heavyweight fight - a fascinating battle between promoted Birmingham City and relegated Ipswich Town, both tipped for success this season.

Closing the weekend on Sunday are two teams at the other end of the "good vibes" spectrum. Leicester City, a side who seem to be playing catch up, are hosting Sheffield Wednesday, a team in such financial disarray it is not a given they will last the season.

In between, Saturday is so packed with intrigue that it was hard to pick just a few games to highlight over the weekend but here are the ones that made the cut.

St Andrew's stadium and a controlling share in the club was bought by a subsidiary of American company Knighthead Capital Management in 2023

Promotion favourites to open weekend

It is not exactly typical for a recently promoted club to be among the favourites for a place in the top flight next season, but nothing about Birmingham City lately has been "standard".

They broke the EFL's points record for a single season during their quick stint in League One following their dismal relegation in 2024, something partially owed to some excellent, big-spending recruitment of players such as forward Jay Stansfield.

Many felt Blues' third-tier side were second division ready last season, but even with the extra additions this summer, their first encounter in their return to the Championship is going to put their competitiveness to the test.

They open the show by welcoming Ipswich Town, a team who spent last season in the Premier League and are favourites to win promotion once again this campaign.

"Hopefully we'll be up there but, as we've said many times, we're not getting ahead of ourselves," Stansfield told BBC Radio WM.

"The Championship's very hard. There are some very good teams coming down from the Premier League.

"It'll be a good benchmark to see whether we can challenge the best teams."

Sheffield Wednesday are currently under multiple EFL sanctions due to long-standing financial problems

Unsteady Foxes host imploding Owls

Both Leicester City and Sheffield Wednesday have had less than ideal pre-seasons.

For the Foxes, their summer has been impacted by a financial rules breach, a messy managerial situation and a quiet transfer window that saw them only seal their first addition to the squad twelve days before their opening match of the new season.

Though Wednesday's fortunes have been significantly worse.

Such is the extent of their financial turmoil, strike action was threatened from the side's remaining players (some have chosen to depart the team) over unpaid wages, and the English Football League have expressed concern about the club's ever-increasing financial crisis.

Owner Dejphon Chansiri says he is waiting for the right offer to sell the side, but the Sheffield Wednesday Fans' Trust had a stark statement for Owls owner in response: "You are killing the club, not saving it."

Uncertainty has clouded both sides this summer, inciting tension between the supporters of the respective clubs and their owners.

It will be interesting to see how it all plays out on Sunday (16:30 BST).

Ruben Selles helped Hull City avoid relegation to League One on the final day of last season before joining the Blades in the summer

Will Selles have the good start he needs?

"If we're not off to a flying start, things could turn ugly," Sheffield United fan Steve wrote into our BBC Have Your Say when Ruben Selles was appointed Blades boss at the expense of club legend Chris Wilder.

The Spaniard will have a chance to impress the Bramall Lane faithful when they host Bristol City on Saturday (17:30 BST), and it will be one the fans have great expectations for.

Despite a strong season for the Robins, the Blades demolished them with a record 6-0 aggregate in the play-off semi-finals in May.

Meanwhile, City will also have a new face of their own in boss Gerhard Struber after Liam Manning departed for Norwich City.

The Austrian claims to be a realist and believes "the Premier League is very near" for the side, so while he may not be focusing on the end of the season just yet, it is clear his goals for the club mirror the same expectations Blades fans have for Selles - promotion.

You cannot predict an entire season from the first game but, for United's board, victory could see the fans forgiving and forgetting.

Only Portsmouth boss John Mousinho will be starting the season with the same club for a second consecutive Championship campaign

New managers chasing good first impressions

What do Sheffield Wednesday, Leicester City, Sheffield United and Bristol City all have in common this weekend?

They will have new managers in their dugouts for the very first time.

They make up four out of 11 teams who have changed bosses over the course of the summer, and there are a couple of other interesting names across the Championship worth keeping an eye on.

Manning will be with his new team Norwich at Carrow Road to welcome former Canaries promotion winner Alex Neil, whose Millwall side were just two points short of Manning's Bristol City last season.

The Hawthorns will be treated to a look at former Tottenham Hotspur first-team coach Ryan Mason in his first permanent managerial role as West Bromwich Albion boss as they take on Blackburn Rovers under former Baggies head coach Valerien Ismael.

While Rob Edwards, who led Luton Town to promotion in 2023, will be looking to resurrect his winning ways with new side Middlesbrough as they host Swansea City.

Can Wycombe rediscover their League One mojo?

New Stockport County signing Malik Mothersille scored the opening goal during his league debut for the side against Bolton Wanderers

Losing in the play-off semi-finals can be a hard thing to get over and Wycombe Wanderers still appear to be feeling the hangover.

They led League One after a superb 19-match unbeaten streak under then-boss Matt Bloomfield last season before fumbling a spot in the play-off final by one goal to eventual champions Charlton Athletic.

The new season has not rejuvenated them either.

They lost their opening game to promoted Bradford City and now have the unenviable task of hosting Stockport County, a side that lost out on a place at Wembley following a controversial goal in the first leg of their semi-final against Leyton Orient.

The two clubs meet on Saturday (15:00 BST), with Stockport coming off the back of a big win over Bolton Wanderers thanks to forwards Kyle Wootton and statement signing Malik Mothersille.

"To beat [Bolton] in our first game sends a message to the rest of the league," Mothersille told BBC Radio Manchester.

"It shows us that we can beat anyone."

You can follow the entire weekend as it happens here on the BBC Sport website and app, starting with live text coverage of Birmingham City v Ipswich Town on 8 August from 19:30 BST.

But this is just the beginning. We will have live text commentary of the Championship, League One and League Two campaigns all season right here on BBC Sport.