Birmingham eye return to big time as Championship gets star billing

This week the tussle between Birmingham and Ipswich, who meet in the curtain-raiser tonight, to sign Chuba Akpom - the runaway top scorer in the division with Middlesbrough three years ago (Viktor Gyökeres was runner-up) - was tantamount to both sides taking it in turns to flex their muscles.

- Ben Fisher

Automatic promotion contenders Despite a sole Premier League win this calendar year, Ipswich were relegated with more decorum than Leicester and Southampton and Kieran McKenna's side are armed to attack the second tier, even if Omari Hutchinson joins Liam Delap in departing.

The 40-year-old Ashley Young, who worked with McKenna at Manchester United, looks a smart pickup and consistency can help Ipswich to flourish. Birmingham, meanwhile, are aiming to repeat a feat last achieved by Ipswich in winning successive promotions and have not been shy in reinforcing Chris Davies's squad, but there is also momentum from a record-breaking season. Leicester are at risk of a points deduction but their new head coach, Martí Cifuentes, took 32 players on the pre-season tour to Austria and has the tools to overpower opponents. The landscape of his squad will probably look different next month - the same applies at Southampton where a flurry of departures are expected - but, unlike last season, neither are likely to be caught short. For Will Still, the returning Gavin Bazunu and Shea Charles could be key pillars at Saints.

Eleven teams have changed managers since the end of last season - 15 since the turn of the year - but few transitions were as messy as Rubén Sellés replacing Chris Wilder at Sheffield United, playoff finalists last season. Sellés, who has reunited with Louie Barry, with whom he worked at Hull last season, has the bones of a strong squad but will need to hit the ground running to win over the Bramall Lane faithful. One of those coaches who arrived midway through last campaign will fancy his chances of kicking on: Frank Lampard revived Coventry, driving them into the playoffs.