The transfer stories are gathering pace, with the deadline for full-time signings now only three days away.

Middlesbrough look set to lose winger Adama Traore to Wolves, while West Bromwich Albion have confirmed a swap deal that has seen Dwight Gayle join them on loan from Newcastle and Salomon Rondon move to the Magpies.

Follow all of the latest Championship news here.

EFL sides are able to add loan players up to and including 31 August.

After a late first-half corner for the Tigers, Villa scramble it away from danger and that brings a second corner.

The visitors then themselves counter attack in a rousing end to the half, as both sets of fans get vocally involved, but it remains 1-1 when referee Andy Madley calls a halt after a minute's added time.

Republic of Ireland assistant manager Roy Keane is among the spectators at Hull tonight.

Keane, who had a spell with Aston Villa as number two to former boss Paul Lambert, is sure to be keeping an eye on Conor Hourihane in Villa's midfield.

Image source, PA

Albert Adomah, Villa's 15-goal top scorer last season, tries his luck but it's a tame effort straight at David Marshall.

At the other end, Jed Steer has to work a bit harder for his money, coming off his line sharply to save from Tigers scorer Evandro.

Image source, PA

It finished 1-1 on the opening day of last season when these two sides met at Villa Park. But all the indications in the first half hour tonight are that there it will not be 1-1 again this time - and that there are more goals to come at the KCOM.

Jarrod Bowen, who scored Hull's goal 366 days ago, has already looked the biggest threat. And the Tigers' next near miss is a long-range shot from Fraizer Campbell, which whistles just over.

Jonathan Kodjia opts to try to rampage solo down the middle - and a decent chance goes begging. Team-mate Ahmed Elmohamady, who he had free to his left, was unimpressed. But, after such a lost, injury blighted season in 2017-18, who can blame Kodjia for going on his own?

Good save by Villa keeper Jed Steer to his left to turn aside Jarrod Bowen's shot after good approach work by Evandro and Fraizer Campbell, but it's otherwise now looking a pretty well contested scrap.

Image source, BBC Sport

There's still time for you to predict your final Championship table...

Pick the teams in order from 1 to 24 and share your selections with your friends on social media.

A group of BBC Sport reporters also had a go. Hull City were predicted to struggle again and finish 20th, while Aston Villa were picked to finish eighth.

Early activity for Hull as Jarrod Bowen nips in behind a dozing Villa defence to win a corner from which Todd Kane goes close.

But then a towering cross at the other end from Hull old boy Ahmed Elmohamady causes Tigers keeper David Marshall problems, as he jumps under pressure from James Chester.

We're under way at the KCOM Stadium.

It's amazing how one defeat can alter a club's entire outlook.

Losing May's Championship play-off final at Wembley left Aston Villa almost staring into the abyss. Serious financial issues came to light, leading to negotiations with HMRC over the payment of tax bills and the very real threat of administration...

Image source, Getty Images

Enter billionaire investors Wes Edens and Nassef Sawiris.

Despite their financial input there are still problems to be solved at Villa Park, not least a sizeable number of millions needed to comply with Financial Fair Play regulations.

But there is reason for optimism - something Villa fans would have snapped your hands off for in the aftermath of that crushing play-off final defeat by Fulham.

After all the talk and all the speculation, how will Villa now respond?

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After dropping out of the Premier League in 2017, Hull City's first season back in the second tier was a difficult one.

Leonid Slutsky left the club midway through his first campaign in charge and it wasn't until the closing weeks of the season that his replacement Nigel Adkins was able to steer the Tigers to Championship safety.

Although rights restrictions prevent us from streaming live radio commentary of today's EFL match, you are still able to tune in to BBC Radio Humberside and BBC WM for extensive coverage of Hull City v Aston Villa.

You can click here for the complete list of BBC local radio stations and frequencies.

Hull City manager Nigel Adkins told BBC Radio Humberside:

"The division's going to be tough. The expectation is that it's going to be a challenging season. We've got to get our war paint on and be ready for that.

"We've got to be fit, organised, have a spirit and have a togetherness with our supporters. There will be games that are really challenging for us and that's when everyone's got to stick together.

"I know I've got a group of players who are hungry and ambitious to do well and we've got a great spirit."

Aston Villa manager Steve Bruce told BBC WM:

"The bookies have got us probably right - there are seven or eight teams at this moment who are stronger than we are, but there's still a month to go and we haven't really started our business because we haven't been able to.

"That will change. We've got two or three things in the fire that will make us stronger and better.

"One thing the owners have said to me, which is clear, is that it's not going to be an instant fix. An instant fix doesn't really work. They want to take time and rebuild the whole club from top to bottom."

How do you think Hull City and Aston Villa will fare in the Championship this season? In which areas does your side need to strengthen before the end of August?

Get in touch using #bbcefl on social media.

Image source, PA

Reports in July suggested that Arsenal and France legend Thierry Henry was being lined up to become Villa manager.

However, Steve Bruce has been given the "full support" of new investors Wes Edens and Nassef Sawiris to continue in his role as Villa boss.

He's won four promotions from England's second tier as a manager - can he make it five this season?

Nigel Adkins gives four of his summer signings - Eric Lichaj, Reece Burke, Jordy de Wijs and on-loan Chelsea youngster Todd Kane - a start.

And the other two of his six summer signings, keeper George Long and Serbian striker David Milinkovic, are on the bench.

Hull: Marshall, Lichaj, De Wijs, Burke, Kingsley, Batty, Henriksen, Bowen, Kane, Evandro, Campbell.

Subs: Stewart, Dicko, Milinkovic, Long, MacDonald, Irvine, Keane.