Host of Australians in action as The Championship kicks off in England this weekend
THE Championship kicks off this weekend with Australian stars including Mile Jedinak, Jackson Irvine, Adam Federici and Massimo Luongo all hoping they can help steer their clubs to the Premier League.
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ADAM Federici is the best-placed Australian to be toasting a place in the Premier League come next May, if the bookies are to be believed.
The gruelling, agonising 46-match slog that is The Championship kicks off on Saturday morning with 24 second tier teams chasing the untold riches to be found in the promised land that is the Premier League.
The campaign kicks off with Reading hosting a Derby County side managed by former Chelsea and England midfielder Frank Lampard.
But one of the most mouthwatering fixtures of the opening weekend sees Federici’s Stoke City travelling to sleeping giants Leeds United on Monday morning.
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The former Socceroo goalkeeper, who faces the daunting task of trying to dislodge England’s Jack Butland, joined the newly-relegated Potters from Bournemouth during the close season. Gary Rowett’s outfit have splashed the cash in a bid to secure an instant return to the top flight. They are $6.50 favourites to win The Championship with the TAB.
Stoke will look to make an early statement of intent at Elland Road, against a Leeds side managed by former Argentina boss Marcelo Bielsa.
Socceroos skipper Mile Jedinak’s Aston Villa suffered playoff final heartbreak against Fulham at Wembley back in May - a costly failure.
Steve Bruce’s men begin their 2018-19 campaign with a trip to Hull City on Tuesday morning.
The Tigers boast another World Cup performer in Jackson Irvine, but a clash between two Socceroos is by no means guaranteed with illness having robbed Irvine of vital pre-season minutes.
Tim Cahill is gone from The Den but Socceroos defender James Meredith remains at the London outfit with the ink drying on a new contract with Neil Harris’s men.
The Lions open their championship campaign with a home game against Tony Pulis’s highly-fancied Middlesbrough.
Massimo Luongo did not manage a single minute’s action at the World Cup but he will be hoping for plenty of action at club level as his Queens Park Rangers side, now managed by former England coach Steve McLaren, open their Championship campaign with a trip to Preston North End. Luongo could yet be joined by another Socceroo with strong mail that Trent Sainsbury is Loftus Road-bound.
Defender Bailey Wright missed out on selection for Russia altogether and the Bristol City skipper will begin his domestic campaign with a home game against much-fancied Nottingham Forest.
Former Sutherland Sharks youngster Ben Folami made his senior bow for Ipswich Town in a 2-2 draw with Millwall last April with the forward signing a professional deal a month later. His Tractor Boys begin their quest for promotion with a home game against newly-promoted Blackburn Rovers.
Winger Ryan Williams is part of a Rotherham United squad promoted from the third tier at the end of last season and the Millers begin their season with a visit to Griffin Park to tackle Brentford.
The third and fourth tiers of the Football League also kick off this weekend with plenty of Australian interest.
Harry Kewell will start his second season in charge of Crawley Town as he bids to lift them out of League Two. Their quest begins with a trip to Cheltenham Town.
Among the Australian players looking to impress in the bottom two divisions are Scunthorpe United defender Cameron Burgess, Bradden Inman at Rochdale and former Central Coast Mariners defender Jimmy Oates, who has linked up with Exeter City.
TAB TITLE ODDS (The Championship)
Stoke City $6.50
West Bromwich Albion $9
Middlesbrough $10
Nottingham Forest $11
Swansea City $12
Aston Villa $13
Leeds United $13
Derby County $13
Brentford $17
Sheffield United $21
Norwich City $21
Sheffield Wednesday $26
Preston North End $26
Bristol City $26
Birmingham City $26
Wigan Athletic $34
Millwall $34
Blackburn Rovers $41
Reading $41
QPR $41
Hull City $51
Ipswich Town $51
Bolton Wanderers $101
Rotherham United $151
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