The EFL Championship begins on Friday with another dramatic and entertaining season in prospect.

Leeds, Burnley and Luton have been installed as promotion favourites while Wayne Rooney will bid to kick-start his managerial career at Plymouth.

The new campaign starts with Sheffield United’s visit to Preston while Blackburn take on promoted Derby at Ewood Park.

Telegraph Sport’s football reporters make their predictions.

Champions

Sam Dean: Leeds United
Leeds flopped in the play-off final against Southampton but their return of 90 points in the regular campaign was proof that they are a very good Championship team. Such a return would usually be enough to secure automatic promotion. The big concern is whether they can successfully adjust to life without the departed Archie Gray and Crysencio Summerville.

Mike McGrath: Burnley
In Scott Parker Burnley have a manager with the know-how to get to the Premier League and a team that can put a run of wins together.

John Percy: Burnley
Scott Parker has achieved two promotions from the Championship already, with Fulham and Bournemouth, and has the experience of this division to deliver again. Burnley will be under pressure to start well and remove the stain of last season’s relegation.

Luke Edwards: Sheffield United
This feels really wide open and there have been a lot of changes at Sheffield United but with Chris Wilder in charge, with all his Championship knowhow, they should be the best of the three relegated sides.

Rob Bagchi: Leeds United
Last season was the only time in three attempts that Daniel Farke hadn’t achieved promotion in a full Championship season and he still managed 90 points, did the double over both automatically promoted clubs and, despite having to sell Gray and Summerville, is likely to have a more coherent team with greater tactical flexibility.