Boro will return to action after the international break with a tough fixture at Ewood Park

Middlesbrough have been warned that Blackburn Rovers are spending the international break sharpening their shooting boots ahead of their Ewood Park showdown.

Both sides go into the first match after the enforced break looking for a morale-boosting win, following defeats last time out. While Boro were losing 2-0 at home to Queens Park Rangers, Blackburn endured a miserable trip to the south west, losing 3-0 to newly-promoted Plymouth Argyle.

Like the Teessiders, Blackburn were guilty of missing several big chances at Plymouth, with Jon Dahl Tomasson’s side winning just two of their opening five Championship games. But young midfielder Adam Wharton is backing Rovers to start turning their chances into goals – starting against Boro.

“The way we are playing on the ball, up until that last bit is really good,” he told RoversTV. “It is how the gaffer wants us to play and we are progressing up the pitch really well.

“It is just that final bit that isn’t really clicking for us but I am sure it is going to come at some point in the season, it has to. We just have to keep working hard and putting the work in training, then hopefully in games, it works out for us.”

The first goal could be vital when the two sides meet, but Carrick insisted after the defeat to QPR that his side have the character to come from behind if the worst should happen.

“Scoring first makes the game in some ways a bit easier,” Carrick said. “Having said that, on many occasions, we have shown good character to be able to come from behind and win games.

“We did it an awful lot last season and again the other night at Bolton. So it’s a real positive to know that the boys are capable of doing that and believe in themselves to do that. Of course, it’s not ideal because you want to go ahead in games not behind.”

Bookmakers have predicted the final Championship league table

The summer transfer window saw a flurry of activity in its closing days as Championship sides up and down the land scrambled to get late business done in an effort to give themselves the best chance for the long haul that awaits.

We may be five games into the new campaign, but that means there’s still a long slog ahead for clubs, with 41 matches remaining in the quest to reach the promised land of the Premier League. There was varying degrees of success on the transfer front for clubs, with some struggling to get the players in they wanted.

It proved a hectic summer for Middlesbrough. Twelve senior players arrived at the Riverside, including Emmanuel Latte Lath, Lewis O’Brien and Seny Dieng. Their recruitment drive focused mainly on bringing in young players with potential.

Relegated sides Leicester City and Southampton, meanwhile, have splashed the cash this summer and are the leading favourites to make a return to the Premier League, followed by Leeds United. It’s not all about how much you spend though, as we have seen in previous years and current leaders Preston North End, along with Ipswich Town will certainly hope that’s not the case.

Now that the window has closed, how has that affected the odds for promotion? Experts at Oddschecker are backing Leicester and Southampton to claim the automatic promotion places, with Boro tipped to miss out on a top-six finish.

The expected final Championship table, according to bookmakers

Leicester City – 5/2

Southampton – 11/2

Leeds United – 8/1

Ipswich – 10/1

Norwich – 12/1

West Brom – 25/1

Coventry City – 33/1

Watford – 33/1

Sunderland – 33/1

Preston – 40/1

Stoke City – 40/1

Millwall – 40/1

Birmingham City – 50/1

Middlesbrough – 50/1

Blackburn – 50/1

Hull City – 66/1

Bristol City – 66/1

Swansea – 125/1

Cardiff – 200/1

Plymouth – 250/1

Sheffield Wednesday – 250/1

Huddersfield – 500/1

QPR – 500/1

Rotherham – 1500/1