Promotion favourites clash while Norwich look to bounce back after defeat and injury

There are games across all three days this weekend, starting tonight with a couple of crackers.

At 7.45pm, sixth-placed Hull City - managed by former Ipswich Town loanee Liam Rosenior - host Coventry City, last season's beaten play-off finalists.

Then, at 8pm, it's perhaps the game of the entire weekend as Southampton, who got thumped 5-0 at Sunderland in their last match before the break, host title favourites Leicester City, who themselves were beaten last time out, 1-0 at home to Hull.

What a way to kick off the weekend!

Ryan Lowe's Preston are top of the table (Image: PA Images)

Turning to Saturday, there are a few matches which catch the eye. I like the look of table-toppers Preston North End hosting surprise package Plymouth Argyle.

The Pilgrims, last season's League One champs, have started life in the second tier well after being tipped by most pundits to struggle, and currently sit tenth with two wins, a draw and two defeats from their opening quintet of matches. They thumped Blackburn 3-0 last time out.

But, while we're on the subject of surprise packages, no-one would have seen Preston topping the table before a ball was kicked.

Ryan Lowe's charges, who looked very average against Town in pre-season, have won four and drawn one of their first five games to sit a point above the Blues at the Championship summit.

Former Town striker Will Keane has bagged four goals so far, including a brace in their 2-0 win at Stoke City before the break. Can they keep their good run going?

There's the added spice, too, of Lowe coming up against his former club, now managed by Steven Schumacher, who was his assistant at Plymouth. Tasty!

Former Ipswich Town striker Will Keane has bagged four goals for Preston (Image: PA Images)

Elsewhere, Blackburn and rock-bottom Middlesbrough clash in a match between two sides who would have hoped to have started much better, while Birmingham City look to maintain their fast start with a trip to Watford.

Then, at 7.45pm on Saturday night, it's the South Wales derby, as Cardiff City - fresh from that thrilling 3-2 defeat at Town - bid to stop Swansea City making it five wins in a row in the hotly-contested fixture.

New Swans boss Michael Duff certainly raised a few eyebrows amongst the fanbase when he was asked about the game.

"It's an important game, but it's not the be-all and end-all," Duff said after Swansea's defeat to Bristol City prior to the international break.

"I'd rather win promotion and get beat by Cardiff twice."

An honest approach, but maybe not something fans would be happy to hear on the eve of a derby!

It's been an interesting few weeks for Town's old rivals. They started the season well, but then lost star striker Josh Sargent to a serious ankle injury before surprisingly falling 2-1 at struggling Rotherham United before the break.

They return to action with a home clash against Stoke City this weekend, and with a new striker in the door at Carrow Road.

South Korean Hwang Ui-jo signed on a season-long loan from Nottingham Forest on deadline day, and will be expected to help fill the gap left by Sargent's injury.

While he's yet to bag for Forest, Hwang did score 29 goals in 92 games for Bordeaux, and has a decent record at international level - 17 strikes in 58 matches.

And South Korean football journalist Sumgo Lee told the BBC that Hwang could be a 'happy surprise' for the Canaries.

"When he is in form he is really one of the best strikers in the world," Lee enthused.

"He can score from anywhere on the pitch, left side, right side, anywhere. He's not too big or too tall but he's great in the air considering his height."

He added: "The Norwich manager needs to play him regularly to regain his form because after he left Bordeaux he has had ups and downs and difficulty adapting in the new leagues.

"If you can use him well you can have a very happy surprise this season."

Michael Carrick has much to ponder at Middlesbrough (Image: PA Images)

Bad Boro must get better

Having made the play-offs last season, Michael Carrick's Middlesbrough currently prop up the entire second tier table, a major surprise in the early going.

They've taken just one point so far - the club's worst ever start to a season - and lost star striker Chuba Akpom to Ajax.

But Carrick remains confident they can turn things around.

He said: "The belief for me has not wavered or (been) knocked in any way.

"Football throws things at you and at times it is not exactly how you want it. You have got to find a way to come out on top and sometimes you have to dig a bit deeper than you'd hoped.

"I am enjoying the challenge of it and have got full faith in the group. We need to help each other and get the best out of them, which I have no doubt we will."

Norwich City's Gabriel Sara is the league's leading chance creator so far (Image: PA Images)

There are several players tied with four goals in their first five games - the aforementioned Keane, plus Norwich's young talent Jonathan Rowe, Plymouth's Ryan Hardie, Southampton's Adam Armstrong and Hull's Ozan Tufan.

Plymouth's Morgan Whittaker tops the assists charts with three, tied with Charlie Patino of Swansea City.

Norwich City's Gabriel Sara - named the Championship's player of the month for August - leads the way in chances created, with 23.