New Burnley boss Vincent Kompany will begin his reign with a tricky-looking game away at defeated play-off finalists Huddersfield Town, as he seeks to steer the Clarets straight back up to the Premier League.

The Turf Moor club agonisingly lost their top-flight status on the final day of last season and now they have turned to the former Manchester City captain and Premier League stalwart to try and get them back up.

However, the Terriers won't be an easy start as Carlos Corberan's side will be desperate to bounce back from their Wembley heartache at the hands of Nottingham Forest.

Norwich City, who have won the Championship in both of the last two years they have competed in the division, are away at Cardiff City on day one, while the other relegated team - Watford - face Sheffield United at Vicarage Road.

Burnley are priced at 9/2 to gain promotion next season, with the Canaries 6/4 and the Hornets available at 2/1.

Huddersfield start for Kompany

After nearly a decade of Sean Dyche came to an end in the closing stages of last season, Burnley decided to tread another path with Belgian Kompany, as he arrives on the back of two years in charge of Anderlecht back in his homeland.

However, it will be tough for the 36-year-old, who has to rebuild the squad following several key departures.

And, the fixture computer hasn't exactly thrown out the easiest opener - the Terriers were last season's surprise package and will feel confident that they can go one better, having had an extra year under Corberan, with Town 13/10 to win their opener.

Yo-yo clubs set to challenge

Norwich City are experts at this level, having secured four promotions in the last 11 years - the last two being title wins in 2019 and 2021.

Ultimately, the squad was not strong enough to mount any sort of survival challenge last year, but Dean Smith knows about winning promotion from the Championship having done so at Aston Villa and there will be high expectations placed upon them.

They are 11/8 to win when they travel to Cardiff on 30th July, with the Bluebirds a side who are undergoing a squad rebuild under Steve Morison and who may yet have Gareth Bale in their line-up.

Watford have also been successful at this level in recent times and former Forest Green Rovers boss Rob Edwards is the man they have chosen to take them forward - a departure from previous bosses such as Roy Hodgson and Claudio Ranieri.

Sheffield United visit them on the opening weekend in what could be a banana skin game, with Paul Heckingbottom's side coming into the new season on the back of a playoff semi-final loss and 7/2 to gain promotion this time around.

Boro and Baggies clash

Several teams can make a convincing case for securing promotion this season and two of them, Middlesbrough and West Brom, face each other on the opening day.

Chris Wilder did a superb job with Boro and very nearly guided them to the top-six after taking over in the autumn, quickly establishing the style of football that proved so successful during his stint at Sheffield United.

Steve Bruce, meanwhile, will be hoping to rejuvenate his reputation at The Hawthorns and try and get the Baggies back in the top-flight - Albion are 11/4 to clinch promotion, with Boro 11/4.

Boro are 13/10 to get off to a flyer against the 15/8 Baggies, although a draw at 5/2 might not be too bad a result for either side.

Newly-promoted Sunderland may also fancy their chances of having a good season with Alex Neil another manager in the Championship who has experience of winning promotion.

The Black Cats face a home game against Coventry City on the opening weekend, a fixture they are 5/4 take all three points from.

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Barnsley and Posh handed away starts

Both Barnsley and Peterborough will be aiming to bounce back following relegation last season and they have been handed visits to Plymouth and Cheltenham respectively on the opening day.

The Tykes have shifted away from their continental managerial appointments and gone with Mike Duff, who took Cheltenham from League Two to League One a couple of seasons ago and are 21/10 to potentially set the tone for his reign with an opening victory.

Posh, meanwhile, are at Duff's old club, where they are 6/5 to succeed, with Grant McCann hoping to earn his second promotion from this level after leading Hull to the title two years ago.

Ipswich are expected to go well under Kieran McKenna and they're 1/1 to win at home to Bolton on day one, who themselves are aiming for the play-offs at least.

Two of the newly-promoted clubs meet on day one as well, with Joey Barton's Bristol Rovers hosting League Two winners Forest Green, with Ian Burchnall the new Rovers manager after being brought in from Notts County. The Gas are 11/10 to make a winning start, with the visitors 5/2.

Hatters looking to go back-to-back

Stockport County are back in the EFL for the first time since 2011 and have been one of the most ambitious clubs in non-league football in recent years.

The aim for boss Dave Challinor will be try and secure back-to-back promotions and they are 4/7 to make a winning start at home to Barrow.

Mark Hughes begins his first full season as Bradford City manager and there will be plenty of eyes on his progress when they face relegated Doncaster Rovers at home on day one, in a game they are 1/1 to win.

Stockport are priced at 7/1 to win League Two, with Bradford 9/1 and Doncaster 16/1.

Punters backing the big names

It's one of the most eagerly anticipated days of the year for fans of the EFL and to coincide with that, bet365 have revealed the teams that currently sit top of their liabilities in the top four divisions in England.

bet365's Steve Freeth said: "It's a list that comprises of one huge shock, a five-time Champions League winner being linked with his hometown club, a team that looks to have done some shrewd business in the transfer window and one that gets backed every season! 

"The interest in Forest since Steve Cooper guided them back to the promised land has really taken us by surprise with over 1,000 bets wagered in the outright market and while at 1500/1 it's unlikely, another East Midlands fairy-tale would be a shocker for us.

"Punters have been happy to throw a dart at 25/1 shots Cardiff with Gareth Bale linked to a sensational move back home and 6/1 Sheffield Wednesday are all the rage in the third tier, with Darren Moore making some eye-catching transfers.

"That leaves 9/1 Bradford, with Mark Hughes being the latest manager to try and get this giant out of League 2, and many customers hoping it will be fourth time lucky for the Bantams."