4 storylines to watch as the Championship kicks off

With the Championship campaign starting Friday, 24 clubs will vie for three promotion places in what should amount to a highly competitive season for England's second tier.

Here's a look at four notable storylines to follow this year:

Most likely to bounce back: Newcastle

Of the three clubs relegated to the Championship, Newcastle United's squad is best suited to bounce back to the top flight.

Despite the departures of Georginio Wijnaldum, Andros Townsend, Papiss Cisse, and defensive duo Fabricio Coloccini and Steven Taylor, Rafa Benitez's roster is littered with players boasting Premier League experience.

Dwight Gayle and Matt Ritchie were brought in to complement an attack that already features Aleksandr Mitrovic and the versatile Ayoze Perez, while the additions of Ciaran Clark, Grant Hanley, Jesus Gamez and Isaac Hayden will shore up a backline that conceded 65 goals last season. That number was trumped only by the futility of Aston Villa (76), Bournemouth (67), and Norwich City (65).

Benitez is one of two second-tier gaffers to have won the Champions League, along with Villa's Roberto Di Matteo. He's spent a reported £40 million in the summer window, offset by the sales of Wijnaldum to Liverpool and Townsend to Crystal Palace. A potential blockbuster sale of Euro 2016 stud Moussa Sissoko will only help the club's finances.

Noted for a tactical acumen that exploits opponent's shortcomings, Benitez has vowed to shape the Magpies in his image, and bookmakers have taken, pegging Newcastle as the favourites to win the league. - MC

Deploy the parachute: Aston Villa

Last season, 19th-place Norwich City earned double Aston Villa's derisory point tally of 17. It was a campaign where the crumbling foundations of Randy Lerner's absent form of ownership, underwhelming investment on players, and repeated questionable managerial hires gave way in spectacular fashion.

But, in the second tier for the first time since 1988, things seemed to be taking a positive turn. Dr. Tony Xia took over from Lerner and promised some spending money in the transfer market, and Stiliyan Petrov's preseason involvement made for a heart-warming tale.

The signing of Ross McCormack significantly strengthened the frontline and, in Roberto Di Matteo, Villa has a manager that has guided a team from the Championship before: West Bromwich Albion in 2010.

Villa was arguably in a scenario which required a disciplinarian to oversee the first team, though - someone like Nigel Pearson, whose widely touted appointment in B6 fell through and paved the way for him to assume control of Derby County instead. Di Matteo, by contrast, has never shown a tough trait in his often ill-fated tenures. - DR

Write off Wembley: Sheffield Wednesday

Sheffield Wednesday's narrow play-off final defeat to Hull City was devastating to those who'd travelled to support the Owlerton outfit, but the achievement of getting to that stage shouldn't be downplayed.

Following a humdrum 0-0 draw at Bolton Wanderers, Wednesday was in 18th place after seven matches. The turning point in the season occurred three days earlier, however, when the home support roundly applauded the team's efforts despite losing 3-1 to Burnley at Hillsborough. Four months later, a rejuvenated side was in the play-off places.

The nomadic Carlos Carvalhal's job this summer has been largely focused on team psychology rather than transfer business. Almen Abdi has been acquired from Watford, but otherwise the Portuguese has worked with predominantly the same group.

Sheffield is the birthplace of football, and supporters of both Wednesday and United are tired of ice hockey's Steelers as the South Yorkshire city's sole proprietors of sporting success. It's time for another promotion push from the Owls. - DR

Promotion dues paid: Brighton & Hove Albion

In the last four seasons, Brighton has finished in a play-off position three times - fourth, sixth, and third - only to bow out of the promotion race at the semi-final stage.

Last season, the Seagulls finished even on points with second-place and automatically promoted side Middlesbrough - only to lose out by virtue of an inferior goal differential after a 1-1 draw with Boro on the final day.

That result was worth £170 million for Middlesbrough.

Even with a string of close-but-no-cigar campaigns, Brighton has plenty to be optimistic about. Chris Hughton is again at the helm of the south coast side. The former full-back has managed both Newcastle and Norwich in the top flight, and after last year's disappointment, wisely opined: "They've got to use this feeling to go again next season."

The core of last year's team remains intact, notably 17-goal man Tomer Hemed, centre-back Lewis Dunk, and midfielder Anthony Knockaert. Add to the mix summer signings Glenn Murray, Oliver Norwood, and Steve Sidwell, and the Seagulls have the mettle to secure a maiden Premier League voyage. - MC