LONDON (AFP) - Sheffield United, Charlton and Watford on Saturday kick off their campaigns to return to the English Premiership at the first attempt as 24 Championship sides scrap it out for a shot at the big time.

Fourteen of the teams are former Premiership clubs and restoring their top-flight status is the only game in town for such sides.

The Championship is the fourth most-watched league in Europe behind the Premier League, Germany's Bundesliga and Spain's La Liga.

But that is little comfort to the teams desperate to get out of it.

Bookmakers William Hill price Charlton as the 6/1 favourites to win the Championship, followed by Wolverhampton and West Bromwich at 7/1, Watford and Sheffield United at 9/1.

Charlton, who spent seven straight seasons in the top flight, would have hoped to face the likes of Manchester United once again this year.

But a home tie with the newly-promoted and decidedly unglamorous League One champions Scunthorpe United will have to do on Saturday.

Charlton signed China captain Zheng Zhi for two million pounds (four million dollars, three million euros) on a permanent deal from Chinese side Shandong Luneng on Thursday.

"I hope we will be able to get him here as soon as possible, and integrate him into the new squad," manager Alan Pardew said.

Sheffield United host Colchester, whose home is the 6,340-capacity Layer Road.

The Blades fought an unsuccessful battle to get their Premiership status reinstated at the expense of West Ham United, believing the Hammers should have been deducted points rather than fined over the muddled registration of Argentina striker Carlos Tevez.

Bryan Robson, the former Manchester United and England midfielder who coached Middlesbrough and West Bromwich, has taken over at Bramall Lane following the colourful Neil Warnock's resignation.

Watford travel to Wolverhampton.

Wolves' bitter Black Country rivals West Bromwich Albion, who lost out to Derby County in the Championship play-off final last season, start all over again at Burnley.

The Championship play-off final is the football match with the biggest financial reward on offer in the world, with a place in the Premiership worth an estimated 50 million pounds (100 million dollars, 75 million euros).

Unlike the top flight, the Championship is a relatively open contest, where smaller sides can mix it with the bigger clubs -- including newly-promoted teams.

Of the other newcomers, League One runners up Bristol City host Queens Park Rangers, while League One play-off winners Blackpool visit Leicester.



Saturday (1400 GMT unless stated):

Barnsley v Coventry, Bristol City v QPR, Burnley v West Bromwich, Cardiff City v Stoke City, Charlton v Scunthorpe, Hull City v Plymouth, Ipswich v Sheffield Wed, Leicester v Blackpool, Preston v Norwich, Sheffield Utd v Colchester, Southampton v Crystal Palace, Wolverhampton v Watford (1620 GMT).