Can Charlton please a packed out Valley in Championship return?

Charlton Athletic welcome Watford on Saturday at 12:30 BST for their first Championship fixture after five years in the third-tier wilderness of the English Football League.

The match will be played in front of the biggest opening day crowd at the Valley for 17 years, bolstered by a sold-out away end.

Both teams have so far made nine summer signings and a number of them should be on show for this intriguing curtain-raiser to the new season.

For Charlton, expect to see keeper Thomas Kaminski and defender Amari'i Bell - both signed from Luton Town - added to boss Nathan Jones's already strong defence.

As we move up the pitch, the double signing from Blackpool of Sonny Carey and Rob Apter will be hoping to continue their mutual understanding demonstrated at both Bloomfield Road and in pre-season friendlies with the Addicks.

My preference up top for Saturday would be an initial partnership of Tanto Olaofe (signed from Stockport County) and Miles Leaburn offering a combination of athleticism and muscle. Mind you, Charlton have plenty of attacking options to call on to change it up if needed with the likes of Tyreece Campbell and new signing Charlie Kelman.

As for Watford, they will arrive at the Valley having won their past seven opening day Championship fixtures.

They have a new head coach at the helm (surprise, surprise) in Uruguayan Paulo Pezzolano, who is intent on making Watford his fourth promotion success.

Watford come into the match having played two pre-season games fewer then their hosts, perhaps wanting to spend more time bedding down the new coach's philosophy of high intensity and dominance on the ball at the training ground.

Charlton may be able to exploit a perceived weakness in the Hornets backline with an injury doubt to central defender Mattie Pollock (son of Jamie, ex-Middlesbrough and Manchester City midfielder), perhaps forcing them to draft in ex-Addicks loanee James Abankwah, who struggled in his short time under Michael Appleton at the Valley in the 2023-24 season.

It is a different kettle of fish in their midfield. Versatile Hector Kyprianou has joined from Peterborough United, and he knows how to find the back of the net against Charlton after scoring the winner at London Road two years ago. He joins passer-supreme Imran Louza and, once a £30m signing for Tottenham Hotspur, Moussa Sissoko in a fluid 4-3-3 shape.

Up top, Watford have the options of creativity, pace and strength with Rocco Vata, Kwadwo Baah and new 6ft 4in Danish striker Luca Kjerrumgaard respectively. Kjerrumgaard scored 22 goals in 29 games for Odense last season. Tom Ince is another obvious option.

Both teams will go out with a positive intent to get three points. Jones will be drumming home to the Charlton players to get the basics right and concentrate to the extreme in this new unforgiving environment.

Owner Gino Pozzo will only accept promotion from his new coach, so Watford will want to be at the races from the start.

I am predicting a share of the spoils: 2-2.

Paul Sullivan provides commentary on Charlton Athletic games for the visually impaired.