Gloves are off for Boxing Day in tense Championship fight

Sheffield United lead the way but Leeds look strong while Sunderland and Burnley are hot on their heels

- Louise Taylor

Chris Wilder could not contain the excitement in his voice. "It feels imminent," said Sheffield United's manager. "It's getting pretty close."

Wilder was referring to his club's protracted takeover by the American consortium, COH Sports. At long last that particular saga has reached a conclusion, with the two key investors, Steven Rosen and Helmy Eltoukhy, joining United's board as co-chairmen after the buyout of Prince Abdullah bin Mosaad's United World Group was confirmed on Monday.

As Wilder aims to reinforce his team's position at the top of the Championship while retaining his best players, most notably the midfielder Gustavo Hamer, the new owners are arriving at an opportune moment. "I do think we need to strengthen in January," said Wilder as he seeks to lead United to a third promotion in six years.

But the manager is conscious that a team that began the season with a two-point deduction for defaulted transfer payments faces some potentially challenging festive fixtures, starting with Burnley's visit on Boxing Day. Scott Parker's side sit third, four points behind Wilder's and one in arrears of second-place Leeds. "It's a huge game for us," said the former England midfielder, whose team are unbeaten in nine games. "But we're on a very good run."

How Wayne Rooney and Frank Lampard must wish they could say the same. The one-time England teammates meet at Coventry where the recently installed Lampard is charged with improving on his team's 17th position and Rooney aims to lift Plymouth off the bottom of the table.