BARNSLEY Andy Ritchie’s team are unbeaten away from home and survival could hinge on whether Michael McIndoe continues to thrive on the left wing.
Key signing: Michael McIndoe (from Doncaster Rovers, undisclosed)
BIRMINGHAM CITY Cameron Jerome scored 20 goals for Cardiff City last season, but not everything has gone according to plan since his arrival. The England Under-21 forward was sent off on opening day and has yet to score.
Key signing: Cameron Jerome (Cardiff City, £3 million)
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BURNLEY Andy Gray and Steve Jones are the strikers expected to fire Burnley into the play-offs. Gray’s loan from Sunderland has become a permanent transfer and Jones has been snapped up from Crewe Alexandra.
Key signing: Andy Gray (Sunderland, £750,000)
CARDIFF CITY Dave Jones, the manager, has a proven track record of spotting talent. Ten players have been signed for £775,000, but Michael Chopra, the former Newcastle United forward, will be the centre of attention.
Key signing: Michael Chopra (Newcastle United, £500,000)
COLCHESTER UNITED Jamie Cureton showed how important he will be by scoring a hat-trick against Derby County last week. The former Swindon Town forward scored seven goals on loan at Layer Road last season.
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Key signing: Jamie Cureton (Swindon Town, free)
COVENTRY CITY Micky Adams has signed plenty of players, but the £4 million sale of Gary McSheffrey to Birmingham City has overshadowed the arrivals. Elliott Ward was unlucky not to make the grade in defence at West Ham United and Chris Birchall shone for Trinidad & Tobago in the World Cup finals.
Key signing: Chris Birchall (Port Vale, £300,000)
CRYSTAL PALACE Peter Taylor has so much faith in Carl Fletcher that the manager has made the Wales midfield player captain. Fletcher was a regular in the West Ham United team who won promotion to the top flight in 2005.
Key signing: Carl Fletcher (West Ham United, £400,000)
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DERBY COUNTY Billy Davies has had a frustrating summer. Southend United refused to part with Freddy Eastwood and an attempt to sign Josh Wolff, the United States forward, was dashed by the refusal of a work permit, so the onus will be on Steve Howard, the striker signed from Luton Town.
Key signing: Steve Howard (Luton Town, £1m)
HULL CITY Dean Marney has caught the eye with promising performances in midfield, but Jon Parkin is the only player to have scored in the league for Phil Parkinson’s team. The £250,000 deadline-day signing of Nicky Forster, the 32-year-old striker, from Ipswich Town should help too.
Key signing: Dean Marney (Tottenham Hotspur, undisclosed)
IPSWICH TOWN Mark Noble and Simon Walton, the loan signings from West Ham United and Charlton Athletic, have helped turn the tide. The signing of Alex Bruce, from Birmingham City, should bolster the defence, while Sylvain Legwinski, a deadline-day arrival from Fulham, will improve the midfield.
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Key signing: Alex Bruce (Birmingham City, free)
LEEDS UNITED The signings of Ian Westlake, Sébastien Carole, Kevin Nicholls and Hayden Foxe have added depth to Kevin Blackwell’s squad, but Rob Hulse will be hard to replace after his £2.2 million transfer to Sheffield United.
Key signing: Kevin Nicholls (Luton Town, £750,000)
LEICESTER CITY The arrival of Josh Low from Northampton Town has caught the eye. Rob Kelly’s team are unbeaten thanks to the former Cardiff City midfield player’s right-wing crosses, a key feature of their attacking play.
Key signing: Josh Low (Northampton Town, free)
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LUTON TOWN Sam Parkin chose Kenilworth Road ahead of Preston North End after failing to settle at Ipswich Town, but his new team may struggle after selling Steve Howard and Kevin Nicholls to Derby County and Leeds United.
Key signing: Sam Parkin (Ipswich Town, £340,000)
NORWICH CITY Lee Croft has been in fine form after his transfer from Manchester City. Nigel Worthington, the manager, will hope that the 20-year-old winger keeps creating chances for Darren Huckerby and Robert Earnshaw.
Key signing: Lee Croft (Manchester City, £600,000)
PLYMOUTH ARGYLE Ian Holloway has invested in two strikers, but it is the seasoned professional rather than the tyro who has caught the eye. Sylvan Ebanks-Blake, the former Manchester United trainee, has yet to settle, but Barry Hayles, the former Fulham forward, has scored three goals.
Key signing: Barry Hayles (Millwall, £100,000)
PRESTON NORTH END It has been a summer of departures, apart from the arrival of Neil Mellor from Liverpool on Wednesday. The 23-year-old forward’s Anfield career was blighted by injuries, but Paul Simpson, the Preston manager, is confident that he will flourish in the second tier.
Key signing: Neil Mellor (Liverpool, undisclosed)
QUEENS PARK RANGERS Supporters are still smarting from the £1.6 million transfer of Dan Shittu to Watford, but Zesh Rehman has been signed from Fulham to fill the void in defence. Nick Ward has impressed in midfield after his transfer from Perth Glory.
Key signing: Dexter Blackstock (Southampton, undisclosed)
SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY Paul Sturrock, the manager, appears to have struck gold with Madjid Bougherra as his side try to impose themselves at this level. The Algeria defender is strong, tough and comfortable on the ball.
Key signing: Madjid Bougherra (Gueugnon, undisclosed)
SOUTHAMPTON Amid wholesale strengthening, the arrival of Rudi Skacel from Heart of Midlothian could be one of the most significant transfers at this level. The Czech Republic midfield player is good enough for the top flight.
Key signing: Rudi Skacel (Heart of Midlothian, £1.6m)
SOUTHEND UNITED Steve Tilson’s team should be safe as long as Freddy Eastwood keeps scoring, but their prospects may also hinge on the form of Michael Ricketts, the striker, who has been signed to replace Shaun Goater.
Key signing: Michael Ricketts (Leeds United, free)
STOKE CITY Danny Higginbotham turned down an improved contract at Southampton and the former Manchester United defender appears to be a bargain. Ricardo Fuller has also swapped St Mary’s for the Britannia Stadium.
Key signing: Danny Higginbotham (Southampton, £225,000)
SUNDERLAND The most significant arrival has been Roy Keane in the dugout, but much is also expected of Tobias Hysen, the 24-year-old forward and, of course, Dwight Yorke, Keane’s former Manchester United team-mate.
Key signing: Dwight Yorke (Sydney FC, £200,000)
WEST BROMWICH ALBION Bryan Robson has kept Zoltan Gera, Jonathan Greening, Nigel Quashie and Curtis Davies and, if John Hartson and Kevin Phillips gel in attack, the club should bounce straight back into the top flight.
Key signing: Kevin Phillips (Aston Villa, £700,000)
WOLVERHAMPTON WANDERERS Kenny Miller, Seol Ki Hyeon and Joleon Lescott have gone, but Jemal Johnson has caught the eye, scoring the winning goal on both of his league starts since arriving from Blackburn Rovers.
Key signing: Jemal Johnson (Blackburn Rovers, undisclosed)