SunSport’s Football League expert Tom Barclay tells you all you need to know about this weekend’s fixtures

SUNSPORT’S Football League expert Tom Barclay gives you the lowdown on this weekend’s EFL action - from one to 11....

1) This week's... hot topics

FERNANDO FORESTIERI: The Argentina-born Italian apologised for refusing to travel last week to Norwich after having his head turned by interest from Derby. He insisted he never wanted to leave the club and claimed there are a lot of “rumours and opinion going around which have been blown out of proportion and are upsetting”, yet still said sorry for his “behaviour and know there is no excuse!” It was a slightly confusing statement but Owls fans will be hoping it is genuine as he is their star man. He came off the bench at Burton but his reception and performance in the lunch-time kick-off at home to Leeds will be fascinating.

SACKING SEASON TO START?: FIFTY-SIX managers were sacked in England last season, with 18 in the Championship. And as Birmingham boss Gary Rowett recently told me, “it’s only going to get worse”. So, with those harrowing words in mind, we can’t be far away from our first casualty of the season. Owen Coyle, Garry Monk, Simon Grayson and Derek Adams have all had ropey starts, so this weekend’s action could be crucial. You would imagine Paul Tisdale, the EFL’s longest-serving manager after more than ten years at Exeter, would be OK despite losing his last four league games.

NORTHAMPTON: Will they ever lose again? The Cobblers extended their unbeaten league run to a phenomenal TWENTY-SEVEN games this week. That means they have not lost in the league in 2016! Having said that, new boss Rob Page is yet to win in the league with three consecutive draws so far, while old chief Chris Wilder is finding life tough so far at perennial underachievers Sheffield United.

2. This week’s… manager who needs a result

OWEN COYLE: Three defeats in his first three games as Blackburn boss does not make for good reading. Rovers have NEVER lost their first four games of a campaign. Coyle really, really does not want to make that kind of history at Ewood Park, but they have looked shocking so far. And Burton, who beat Sheffield Wednesday in the week, at home will not be easy. The Venky’s have a trigger-happy history so former Burnley and Bolton boss Coyle needs a victory to stave off pressure.

3. This week’s… player who should be in the goals

GARY HOOPER: The Sheffield Wednesday striker opened his account for the season with a penalty in midweek against Burton, even though the Owls fell to a shock defeat. Carlos Carvalhal’s side will want a quick response - and I fancy Hooper to be the main beneficiary against leaky Leeds at home. With the likes of Barry Bannan and Almen Abdi supplying the ammunition, I’m confident he’ll be cock-a-Hoop come the end of the game.

4. This week’s… whizkid to watch

TAMMY ABRAHAM: If you haven’t heard of him yet, then wash your ears out! The Chelsea kid has been hitting the headlines thanks to three goals in his first four games on loan at Bristol City. The true acid test for the powerful forward comes tomorrow at home to Newcastle but he looks a real prospect. Chelsea pal Izzy Brown has just been farmed out to Rotherham so it will be intriguing to see if he can match Abraham’s impact.

5. This week’s… amazing stat

WYCOMBE: Incredibly, the Chairboys fielded their fifth different keeper in as many league games on Tuesday at home to Accrington. Jamal Blackburn, on loan from Chelsea, started in nets against Stanley. Cameron Dawson played on an emergency loan vs Grimsby after Scott Brown got injured on his debut at Crawley, while Benjamin Siegrist and Ryan Allsop played in the last two league games of last season.

6. This week’s… potential Premier League target

OLIVER BURKE: I’ve seen the Nottingham Forest winger, 19, twice already this season and what strikes you most is his amazing power and pace. The guy is like Usain Bolt the way he breezes past defenders. Needs to improve with his end product, as the Scot’s crucial miss against Brighton proved. But there is potentially a heck of a player there, primed for an Eddie Howe or even an Arsene Wenger to mould should he leave the City Ground.

7. This week’s… game of the weekend

SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY v LEEDS: This game provided a comedic moment last season as then Leeds boss Steve Evans saw his team score, rushed off to take a leak, then came back to find out it had been chalked off. Funny, although I guess not for Evans - or the away fans! There is a serious element to this fixture this time round though with Garry Monk needing a result if owner Massimo Cellino’s 'manager-eating' history is anything to go by. But that will be easier said than done against Carlos Carvalhal’s side who look a decent bet for the play-offs this year. Oh, and it’s a Yorskhire derby, which are always tasty.

8. This week’s… transfer tips

KAZENGA LUALUA: The former Newcastle winger is understood to be keen on a move away from Brighton to get more game time. LuaLua won the Championship player of the month for August last season but is struggling to get in the team with Anthony Knockaert , Jiri Skalak and Jamie Murphy ahead of him in the pecking order. The Seagulls also have exciting wideman Solly March to return from injury.
JAMES MEREDITH: Barnsley have moved ahead of Brentford in the race for the Bradford full-back. The Bees now seem to be keen on a loan to fill the void left by Jake Bidwell when the left-back quit for QPR.
BLACKBURN: Rovers saw new deal offers rejected by key players Shane Duffy and Ben Marshall this week. But despite the pair having only one year left on their contracts, Owen Coyle is unlikely to lose them - this month, at least.

9.This week’s… lol

SHANE DUFFY: Sorry Shane, but it has to be. Things could not have gone worse for the poor Irishman in midweek against Cardiff. Duffy hit TWO own goals - the first when a ball rebounded off him after it hit the post and the second a header past his keeper - and was sent off at the death for a second bookable offence. That means the centre-back has THREE own goals for the season following his gaffe against Wigan, which ridiculously puts him equal with Grant Ward and Glenn Murray as the division’s top-scorer - sort of. To pile on more woe, Duffy was being watched by a host of scouts after rejecting a new contract in the week. PS I’m treating Mario Balotelli’s 6-1 odds of joining Wolves (and 9-1 to move to Port Vale!) as a joke - for the moment...

10. This week’s… dead cert

BRADFORD (v Coventry): There are fair few I could have picked this week with Bolton and QPR both looking strong favourites in their ties. But I’m going for Stuart McCall’s Bantams as they have had a fine start with consecutive away victories - while they face a Coventry side who are yet to score this season.

11. This week’s… cheeky punt for your acca

BURTON (v Blackburn): ALBION look up for the fight and pulled off the result of the season so far with their win over heavily-fancied Sheffield Wednesday in midweek. I think they can have more joy at Rovers and crank the pressure up on Owen Coyle.