Stoke City boss Alex Neil has urged his side to make a fast start to the Championship campaign ahead of a 'testing' schedule in October. The Potters will face relegated trio Leicester City, Leeds United and Southampton along with Middlesbrough and Sunderland in the space of 26 days.
The Whites will begin life following their three-year stay in the Premier League with a televised home encounter with Cardiff City. However, the search for Sam Allardyce's successor in the hotseat remains ongoing while a host of first-team stars continue to be linked with exits following relegation.
This uncertainty has not prevented Leeds from being named as one of the favourites to secure an instant return to the top-flight by the bookmakers. Only Leicester City are priced better in the current Championship promotion betting markets, with Middlesbrough, Norwich City, Southampton and Watford also tipped to be in the mix.
