Swansea start the round top of the table, two points clear of West Ham
Burnley are bottom, with Lancashire rivals Preston also on four points, but with a new coach
Newly confident Bolton are expecting a sell-out for their game on Saturday
The Championship returns after the three-week international break, with derby action on Friday and Sunday bookending the action.
West Ham vs QPR - Friday October 9 (8pm)
Key Stats
West Ham have won their last three home matches by an aggregate of 13-2
QPR are unbeaten away from home this season (W2, D2).
Team news
West Ham's Tomas Soucek is expected to be available for the first time this season, but Glen Kamara, who has started two of QPR's last three games, may be banned after being withdrawn early from Finland duty.
Need to know
West Ham sit two points behind leaders Swansea and can go top of the Championship. The Hammers have won their last three home league games, while QPR have drawn their last three, but lost 2-1 at the London Stadium in the FA Cup last January.
Score Prediction: West Ham 2-1 QPR @ 11/2 with LiveScore Bet
Charlton vs Bristol City - Saturday October 10 (12.30pm)
Key Stats
Charlton have failed to win their last five and have won only one of the last six head-to-heads
The Robins are the Championship's joint top scorers from set pieces (six goals)
Team news
Tyler Bindon and Conor Coventry were among the Charlton players on international duty but should feature. City striker Elijah Adebayo could be involved after scoring the opener in an under-21s game between the clubs on Tuesday.
Need to know
Charlton's fast start has abated and they are winless in five. Bristol City have taken seven points on the road and won at The Valley in April.
Score prediction: Charlton 1-2 Bristol City @ 13/2 with LiveScore Bet
Swansea vs Norwich - Saturday October 10 (12.30pm)
Key Stats
Swansea are unbeaten at home (W2, D2)
Norwich's last two Championship games have ended in 4-3 defeats
Swansea's last three games have featured both teams scoring & over 2.5 goals
Team news
Former Norwich forward Adam Idah played a withdrawn role for Ireland and may feature alongside last season's top scorer Zan Vipotnik.
They may face Ruairi McConville, who should continue in central defence alongside Jose Cordoba after excelling for Northern Ireland.
Need to know
Championship leaders Swansea beat Burnley and Lincoln before the hiatus and can make it three in a row against Norwich. The Canaries finished a point ahead of the Swans last season but have struggled, losing their last three in all competitions by an aggregate score of 13-6.
Score prediction: Swansea 3-1 Norwich with LiveScore Bet
West Brom vs Birmingham - Saturday October 10 (12.30pm)
Key Stats
Both of last season's meetings finished as draws, 1-1 at The Hawthorns and 0-0 at St Andrew's
West Brom have been fouled 110 times this season, the most in the division
Team news
The Baggies hope Jimmy Jay Morgan, who has six goal contributions in eight league games, will be available after a knock. Callum Styles also had to withdraw from international duty but could play at right-back, with Nolan Galves out for the season.
Blues boss Chris Davies hopes to have Max Bird, Taylor Gardner-Hickman and Demarai Gray back fit.
Need to know
Birmingham have drawn a Championship-high five matches and make the short trip to West Brom, who lost 1-0 at another local rival, Wolves, before the international break. The pair drew 1-1 at The Hawthorns last season and look tough to split.
Score prediction: West Brom 1-1 Birmingham @ 19/4 with LiveScore Bet
Blackburn vs Cardiff - Saturday October 10 (3pm)
Key Stats
Blackburn's 23 yellow cards received is the joint-highest in the Championship
Cardiff have the highest average possession in the Championship (64%)
Team news
Scott Wharton, Augustus Kargbo and Mathias Jorgensen could be available for Rovers, but Yuki Ohashi (hamstring) is sidelined. Cardiff defender Krystian Bielik is absent due to an FA ban.
Need to know
Cardiff play pretty football but have lost their last three away games. This is a real opportunity for Blackburn, who beat Millwall 3-1 at home before drawing 2-2 at Portsmouth. Tony Mowbray's competitive side have to handle the pressure of being favourites.
Score prediction: Blackburn 2-1 Cardiff @ 7/1 with LiveScore Bet
Bolton vs Stoke - Saturday October 10 (3pm)
Key Stats
This is Stoke's first trip to Bolton since a 0-0 draw in December 2019
The Potters' four away points came in their last two road matches
Team news
Atsuki Ito scored Bolton's winner in their 4-3 at Norwich and will hope to start, as will goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu, who spent time on loan in the Potteries.
Need to know
Bolton say 25,000 tickets have been sold, including 4,600 for the visitors, with Trotters boss Steven Schumacher facing his former club. Wanderers won their two games before the break, while Stoke have taken 13 points from the last five. Both are confident and could cancel each other out.
Score prediction: Bolton 1-1 Stoke @ 9/2 with LiveScore Bet
Derby vs Wrexham - Saturday October 10 (3pm)
Key Stats
Derby are winless at home
One or both sides have failed to score in Wrexham's last three away matches
Team news
Henrik Meister could feature for Derby after concussion, but the Rams are missing at least four left-sided defenders.
Wrexham boss Phil Parkinson has confirmed Danny Imray and Ollie Rathbone are in contention after injury, adding it is "great" to have them back.
Need to know
A difficult summer market and subsequent injuries have left Derby short. Wrexham recovered from their 6-0 loss at West Ham to beat Southampton 2-1, the same scoreline by which they won at Pride Park last season.
Score prediction: Derby 1-2 Wrexham @ LiveScore Bet
Middlesbrough vs Wolves - Saturday October 10 (3pm)
Key Stats
Middlesbrough forward Will Lankshear has scored six goals
Wolves have scored two or more goals in four of their six away matches in all competitions
Team news
Middlesbrough's on-loan winger Amario Cozier-Duberry made his England under-21 debut on Tuesday after two goals and an assist in his last three club games.
Fer Lopez suffered a knock on international duty which may prompt a reshuffle to Wolves' attack.
Need to know
Boro are unbeaten in five at the Riverside this season, but are yet to keep a home clean sheet in the league. Wolves' last three matches finished 1-0 (W2, L1), but they tend to score goals on the road.
Score prediction: Middlesbrough 2-2 Wolves @ 8/1 with LiveScore Bet
Preston vs Millwall - Saturday October 10 (3pm)
Key Stats
Preston have lost six out of eight games this season
Millwall are unbeaten in their last 14 against Preston
Team news
Jonny Kenny scored twice in Preston's pre-break 2-2 at QPR and is expected to lead the attack, having not been involved with Ireland.
Goalkeeper Filip Marschall enjoyed an excellent Millwall debut in the 2-2 draw with West Ham and should be retained in goal.
Need to know
Preston legend Graham Alexander takes charge for the first time and has described the upcoming run of games as a "restart". Alex Neil was manager at Deepdale from 2017 to 2021. His Millwall drew with West Ham before the break, their fourth successive league game to feature exactly four goals.
Score prediction: Preston 2-2 Millwall @ 17/2 with LiveScore Bet
Sheffield United vs Lincoln - Saturday October 10 (3pm)
Key Stats
Sheffield United have lost four of their last five in all competitions, including their last two at home
Lincoln's nine points away from home is the joint-highest in the division
Team news
Former Lincoln loanee Ryan One is among the Blades players Chris Wilder hopes to have back available.
Imps midfielder Ivan Varfolomeev made his senior international debut as a substitute in Ukraine's defeat to Hungary on Monday and could make his sixth league start of the season.
Need to know
Sheffield United are struggling with injuries and are two points and six places behind Lincoln. The Imps' strong start in the Championship has centred on strong away form (W3, L1).
Score prediction: Sheffield United 1-2 Lincoln @ 8/1 with LiveScore Bet
Watford vs Burnley - Saturday October 10 (3pm)
Key Stats
Seven of Watford's eight points have been earned at home
Burnley are winless away from home this season (D1, L3)
Team news
Watford could give Senegal international Krepin Diatta, who signed on a free transfer on October 1, a debut.
Burnley have several forwards absent but Dastan Satpayev could be available after a hamstring injury.
Need to know
Watford save their best for Vicarage Road, but have lost four of their last five. However, Burnley are still to win in this season's Championship and are bottom of the table.
Score prediction: Watford 2-1 Burnley @ 7/1 LiveScore Bet
Southampton vs Portsmouth - Sunday October 11 (12pm)
Key Stats
Southampton have conceded exactly once in their four Championship home games
Portsmouth have never won a league game at St Mary's (D2, L2)
Team news
Caspar Jander (hamstring) has returned to training and could feature but Daniel Peretz and Cyle Larin are doubts after knocks on international duty.
Portsmouth could be missing up to nine players but Keshi Anderson (quad) may be available.
Need to know
Southampton lost at Wrexham before the break, while Portsmouth were unbeaten in three, drawing with Blackburn last time out. However, Pompey have failed to win the last five derbies and Southampton have a perfect home record.
Score prediction: Southampton 3-1 Portsmouth @ 8/1 with LiveScore Bet
