Promotion chasing Norwich City will play host to league leaders Queens Park Rangers in New Year’s Day Championship action.
Second place Cardiff City will travel to face struggling Bristol City, while Swansea City and Leeds United will look to keep up the pressure on the Bluebirds when they play host to Reading and Middlesbrough respectively.
Coventry City will be hoping as victory over Ipswich Town will help them break into the top six, while Nottingham Forest will be doing the same thing when they play Barnsley.
At the bottom end of the table, Preston North End will host Derby County in difficult circumstances. Manager Darren Ferguson was sacked this week, and five players have left the club after their loan spells ended. Among those players were Manchester United star Ritchie De Laet and Josh King, who were immediately recalled by Sir Alex Ferguson after the sacking of his son.
Crystal Palace and Scunthorpe United need points to climb out of the bottom three, and they will travel to face Millwall and Doncaster Rovers.
Sheffield United, Burnley and Preston North End will all be playing their first game under new management on New year’s Day.
Leeds United continue their promotion push on New Year’s Day when they play host to struggling Middlesbrough. Leeds are riding an 11 game unbeaten streak and are outside of the automatic promotion spots on goal difference alone. Middlesbrough currently sit only one point above the relegation zone.
Leeds will be without defender George McCartney, who has returned to Sunderland after his loan spell ended.
Boro midfielder Barry Robson will be given a late fitness test as he is recovering from a virus. Middlesbrough will be without forward Scott McDonald for a while after this game, as he will be representing Australia at the Asian Cup.
Playoff chasing Millwall will play host to struggling Crystal Palace with both teams in desperate need of points. Millwall are only two points below the playoff zone, while Palace currently occupy the bottom three and sit two points off safety.
Millwall defender Alan Dunne is suspended, while striker Neil Harris could make his return from a back injury. Central defenders Danny Shittu and Paul Robinson will be assessed ahead of kickoff, with both hoping to shake off hamstring injuries in order to play.
Palace will be hoping star midfielder Darren Ambrose can shake off a leg injury in time to play, while defender David Wright is suspended.
Nottingham Forest will play host to Barnsley, with the home side only one point off the playoff spots. Forest will be hoping to follow up on their recent 5-2 win over bitter rivals Derby County, while Barnsley will be hoping to avoid their third straight defeat.
Ryan Bertrand will be unavailable for Forest after limping out of the win over Derby, Chris Cohen is the likely replacement. Forest will also be without Aaron Ramsey, who has returned to Arsenal after his loan spell ended.
Jay McEveley and Luke Potter are out injured for Barnsley. Garry O’Connor will also be missing as his loan spell from Birmngham City has expired, and his permanent signing will not be registered until next week.
Swansea City and Reading will meet with both teams firmly in the promotion chase. Swansea are 3rd and level on points with 2nd place Cardiff City. Reading are in 6th place, but are under pressure from the teams below them, five teams are within two points of the Royals.
Swansea will be without defender Alan Tate, who is suspended following his Boxing Day red card against Queens Park Rangers.
Mikele Leigertwood will receive a late fitness test for Reading, while Brynjar Gunnarsson and Ivar Ingimarsson are both doubtful with injury.
Norwich City currently occupy 5th place and have won four of their last five matches. However, the Canaries will face a tough task here when they play host to league leaders Queens Park Rangers, who are seven points clear at the top of the table.
Defenders Leon Barnett and Simon Lappin are suspended for Norwich, while Elliott Ward and Arsenal loanee Henri Lansbury are sidelined with injury. Andrew Surnam is a long term absentee due to a knee injury.
Clint Hill will be available to play for QPR after his Boxing Day red card was overturned on appeal. Heidar Helguson and Rob Hulse will be battling for a place in the starting front line.
Rock bottom Preston North End will play host to Derby County in desperate need of points. PNE are currently five points adrift of safety, and recently fired manager Darren Ferguson. David Unsworth will take charge of Preston for this game.
Preston completed the signing of Barnsley striker Iain Hume, but Unsworth will have to make a number of changes to the team due to loan spells ending. Leon Cort has returned to parent club Burnley, while Danny Pugh and Michael Tonge have gone back to Stoke City.
Josh King and Ritchie De Laet had been on loan from Manchester United, but Sir Alex Ferguson immediately recalled the pair after his son Darren was sacked.
Dean Moxey will be suspended for Derby, and Gareth Roberts is an injury doubt. Captain Robbie Savage will return from suspension for the Rams.
Derby players Dean Leacock and Paul Green may fear for their places in the starting lineup after Nigel Clough laid into them following the recent 5-2 defeat to rivals Nottingham Forest. “I thought they offered us absolutely nothing,” said Clough.
Scunthorpe United will be looking for points to help them climb out of the relegation zone when they travel to face Doncaster Rovers. Doncaster will be looking for a win that would help close the four point gap between themselves and the playoff spots.
Doncaster midfielder Martin Woods could make his long awaited return from a groin injury, while Rovers still have a number of players out. Mustapha Dumbaya, George Friend, James Chambers and Simon Gillett are all sidelined with knee injuries.
Michael Raynes, Niall Canavan and Jim McNulty are all sidelined with injury for Scunthorpe.
Cardiff City will travel to struggling Bristol City looking to bolster their promotion push after winning only one of their last six matches. Cardiff currently sit in 2nd place, but are under pressure from Swansea City and Leeds United who are level with them on 40 points. Bristol currently sit four points above the relegation zone.
Bristol defender Liam Fontaine will be out with an ankle injury, while Louis Carey and Jamie McAllister are also sidelined. Danny Rose, David Clarkson and in-form striker Brett Pitman are all in line for a recall for the Robins.
England international forward Jay Bothroyd could return for Cardiff after a hamstring injury. Wales international striker Craig Bellamy is also looking to play after shaking off a knee problem.
Danny Drinkwater and Chris Burke are recovering from illness and will be assessed ahead of kickoff.
Hull City will be looking to extend an eight game unbeaten run when they play host to Leicester City at the KC Stadium. The game will see Nigel Pearson leading Hull into battle against his former club.
Defender Anthony Gerrard is hoping to recover from an Achilles injury in time to play. Powerful young forward Aaron McLean just completed his signing from Peterborough, and will be included in the squad for the Tigers.
Curtis Davies, Chris Kirkland and Miguel Vitor are all injury doubts for Leicester and will be assessed ahead of kickoff.
Burnley and Sheffield United will clash on New Year’s Day, with the game marking the debut of new management for each club. Caretaker boss Stuart Gray will be taking charge of Burnley, while lifelong fan Micky Adams will begin his reign as United manager.
Burnley are two points below the playoff spots, and will be boosted by the return from injury of former Manchester United winger Chris Eagles. Dean Marney and Chris Iwelumo could also return for the Clarets.
Stephen Quinn, Kyle Bartley and Nick Montgomery are all suspended for the Blades, who are only two points above the relegation zone. Andy Taylor is out with injury, while Leon Britton could make his return after recovering from a back problem.
Coventry City will be looking to continue their playoff push as they play host to struggling Ipswich Town. Coventry are outside the playoff zone on goal difference only, while Ipswich are four points above the drop zone.
Aron Gunnarsson is suspended for Coventry, along with leading goal scorer Gary McSheffrey. Clive Platt and David Bell will be looking to keep their place in the side after recent recalls.
Ipswich will be without left-back Gianni Zuiverloon after his loan spell from West Bromwich Albion expired. Jamie Peters is the likely replacement. Shane O’Connor will miss the game with an injury suffered in training.
Playoff chasing Watford will play host to Portsmouth, with both teams in good form. Watofrd are only one point below the playoff spots and will be looking for their fourth consecutive win. Portsmouth are unbeaten in four games, and are only four points off the playoff zone.
Michael Bryan will be sidelined for Watford due to an ankle injury. Troy Deeney and Piero Mingoia could be fit to return for the Hornets.
Dave Kitson is suspended for Pompey, while Danny Webber will miss the game with a knee injury. Michael Brown and Richard Hughes will miss the game due to ongoing contractual issues.
Coventry City will be hoping as victory over Ipswich Town will help them break into the top six, while Nottingham Forest will be doing the same thing when they play Barnsley.
At the bottom end of the table, Preston North End will host Derby County in difficult circumstances. Manager Darren Ferguson was sacked this week, and five players have left the club after their loan spells ended. Among those players were Manchester United star Ritchie De Laet and Josh King, who were immediately recalled by Sir Alex Ferguson after the sacking of his son.
Crystal Palace and Scunthorpe United need points to climb out of the bottom three, and they will travel to face Millwall and Doncaster Rovers.
Sheffield United, Burnley and Preston North End will all be playing their first game under new management on New year’s Day.
Leeds United continue their promotion push on New Year’s Day when they play host to struggling Middlesbrough. Leeds are riding an 11 game unbeaten streak and are outside of the automatic promotion spots on goal difference alone. Middlesbrough currently sit only one point above the relegation zone.
Leeds will be without defender George McCartney, who has returned to Sunderland after his loan spell ended.
Boro midfielder Barry Robson will be given a late fitness test as he is recovering from a virus. Middlesbrough will be without forward Scott McDonald for a while after this game, as he will be representing Australia at the Asian Cup.
Playoff chasing Millwall will play host to struggling Crystal Palace with both teams in desperate need of points. Millwall are only two points below the playoff zone, while Palace currently occupy the bottom three and sit two points off safety.
Millwall defender Alan Dunne is suspended, while striker Neil Harris could make his return from a back injury. Central defenders Danny Shittu and Paul Robinson will be assessed ahead of kickoff, with both hoping to shake off hamstring injuries in order to play.
Palace will be hoping star midfielder Darren Ambrose can shake off a leg injury in time to play, while defender David Wright is suspended.
Nottingham Forest will play host to Barnsley, with the home side only one point off the playoff spots. Forest will be hoping to follow up on their recent 5-2 win over bitter rivals Derby County, while Barnsley will be hoping to avoid their third straight defeat.
Ryan Bertrand will be unavailable for Forest after limping out of the win over Derby, Chris Cohen is the likely replacement. Forest will also be without Aaron Ramsey, who has returned to Arsenal after his loan spell ended.
Jay McEveley and Luke Potter are out injured for Barnsley. Garry O’Connor will also be missing as his loan spell from Birmngham City has expired, and his permanent signing will not be registered until next week.
Swansea City and Reading will meet with both teams firmly in the promotion chase. Swansea are 3rd and level on points with 2nd place Cardiff City. Reading are in 6th place, but are under pressure from the teams below them, five teams are within two points of the Royals.
Swansea will be without defender Alan Tate, who is suspended following his Boxing Day red card against Queens Park Rangers.
Mikele Leigertwood will receive a late fitness test for Reading, while Brynjar Gunnarsson and Ivar Ingimarsson are both doubtful with injury.
Norwich City currently occupy 5th place and have won four of their last five matches. However, the Canaries will face a tough task here when they play host to league leaders Queens Park Rangers, who are seven points clear at the top of the table.
Defenders Leon Barnett and Simon Lappin are suspended for Norwich, while Elliott Ward and Arsenal loanee Henri Lansbury are sidelined with injury. Andrew Surnam is a long term absentee due to a knee injury.
Clint Hill will be available to play for QPR after his Boxing Day red card was overturned on appeal. Heidar Helguson and Rob Hulse will be battling for a place in the starting front line.
Rock bottom Preston North End will play host to Derby County in desperate need of points. PNE are currently five points adrift of safety, and recently fired manager Darren Ferguson. David Unsworth will take charge of Preston for this game.
Preston completed the signing of Barnsley striker Iain Hume, but Unsworth will have to make a number of changes to the team due to loan spells ending. Leon Cort has returned to parent club Burnley, while Danny Pugh and Michael Tonge have gone back to Stoke City.
Josh King and Ritchie De Laet had been on loan from Manchester United, but Sir Alex Ferguson immediately recalled the pair after his son Darren was sacked.
Dean Moxey will be suspended for Derby, and Gareth Roberts is an injury doubt. Captain Robbie Savage will return from suspension for the Rams.
Derby players Dean Leacock and Paul Green may fear for their places in the starting lineup after Nigel Clough laid into them following the recent 5-2 defeat to rivals Nottingham Forest. “I thought they offered us absolutely nothing,” said Clough.
Scunthorpe United will be looking for points to help them climb out of the relegation zone when they travel to face Doncaster Rovers. Doncaster will be looking for a win that would help close the four point gap between themselves and the playoff spots.
Doncaster midfielder Martin Woods could make his long awaited return from a groin injury, while Rovers still have a number of players out. Mustapha Dumbaya, George Friend, James Chambers and Simon Gillett are all sidelined with knee injuries.
Michael Raynes, Niall Canavan and Jim McNulty are all sidelined with injury for Scunthorpe.
Cardiff City will travel to struggling Bristol City looking to bolster their promotion push after winning only one of their last six matches. Cardiff currently sit in 2nd place, but are under pressure from Swansea City and Leeds United who are level with them on 40 points. Bristol currently sit four points above the relegation zone.
Bristol defender Liam Fontaine will be out with an ankle injury, while Louis Carey and Jamie McAllister are also sidelined. Danny Rose, David Clarkson and in-form striker Brett Pitman are all in line for a recall for the Robins.
England international forward Jay Bothroyd could return for Cardiff after a hamstring injury. Wales international striker Craig Bellamy is also looking to play after shaking off a knee problem.
Danny Drinkwater and Chris Burke are recovering from illness and will be assessed ahead of kickoff.
Hull City will be looking to extend an eight game unbeaten run when they play host to Leicester City at the KC Stadium. The game will see Nigel Pearson leading Hull into battle against his former club.
Defender Anthony Gerrard is hoping to recover from an Achilles injury in time to play. Powerful young forward Aaron McLean just completed his signing from Peterborough, and will be included in the squad for the Tigers.
Curtis Davies, Chris Kirkland and Miguel Vitor are all injury doubts for Leicester and will be assessed ahead of kickoff.
Burnley and Sheffield United will clash on New Year’s Day, with the game marking the debut of new management for each club. Caretaker boss Stuart Gray will be taking charge of Burnley, while lifelong fan Micky Adams will begin his reign as United manager.
Burnley are two points below the playoff spots, and will be boosted by the return from injury of former Manchester United winger Chris Eagles. Dean Marney and Chris Iwelumo could also return for the Clarets.
Stephen Quinn, Kyle Bartley and Nick Montgomery are all suspended for the Blades, who are only two points above the relegation zone. Andy Taylor is out with injury, while Leon Britton could make his return after recovering from a back problem.
Coventry City will be looking to continue their playoff push as they play host to struggling Ipswich Town. Coventry are outside the playoff zone on goal difference only, while Ipswich are four points above the drop zone.
Aron Gunnarsson is suspended for Coventry, along with leading goal scorer Gary McSheffrey. Clive Platt and David Bell will be looking to keep their place in the side after recent recalls.
Ipswich will be without left-back Gianni Zuiverloon after his loan spell from West Bromwich Albion expired. Jamie Peters is the likely replacement. Shane O’Connor will miss the game with an injury suffered in training.
Playoff chasing Watford will play host to Portsmouth, with both teams in good form. Watofrd are only one point below the playoff spots and will be looking for their fourth consecutive win. Portsmouth are unbeaten in four games, and are only four points off the playoff zone.
Michael Bryan will be sidelined for Watford due to an ankle injury. Troy Deeney and Piero Mingoia could be fit to return for the Hornets.
Dave Kitson is suspended for Pompey, while Danny Webber will miss the game with a knee injury. Michael Brown and Richard Hughes will miss the game due to ongoing contractual issues.
