More matches for TV audiences have been confirmed today, with nine Sky Bet EFL matches having been picked to appear live on Sky Sports in the opening weeks of the 2017/18 season.

The first fixture of the latest round of matches will see two teams returning to the Sky Bet Championship next season go head-to-head, as Sheffield United make the journey north to Middlesbrough in a 5.30pm kick-off on Saturday 12 August. 

Burton Albion’s home encounter with Birmingham City will then take place at 7.45pm on Friday 18 August, kicking-off a weekend which also sees Sunderland’s new manager Simon Grayson take on a former team as his current side host Leeds United at the Stadium of Light on Saturday 19 August.

September gets underway with three live Sky Bet League One games in the month’s opening weekend. First up is the encounter between Bradford City and Bristol Rovers in a 12.30pm kick-off on Saturday 2 ahead of a double-header on Sunday 3 September. Fleetwood Town travel to Blackburn Rovers for a lunchtime kick-off, before Portsmouth host Rotherham United in a 2.30pm fixture.

The final games to be confirmed for September to date, are Derby County’s clash with Hull City on Friday 8 September and Nottingham Forest’s visit to Sheffield Wednesday at 5.30pm on Saturday 9 September.

While no Brentford matches have been selected so far, one further fixture over this time period is yet to be confirmed, with the games to the end of September being announced before 14 July.

The list of games selected for live coverage are as follows:

Saturday 12 August                Middlesbrough v Sheffield United                  5.30pm

Friday 18 August                     Burton Albion v Birmingham City                   7.45pm

Saturday 19 August                Sunderland v Leeds United                            5.30pm

Friday 25 August                     Bristol City v Aston Villa                                  7.45pm

Saturday 2 September           Bradford City v Bristol Rovers                        12.30pm

Sunday 3 September              Blackburn Rovers v Fleetwood Town            12.15pm

Sunday 3 September              Portsmouth v Rotherham United                    2.30pm

Friday 8 September                Derby County v Hull City                                7.45pm

Saturday 9 September           Sheffield Wednesday v Nottingham Forest   5.30pm

Throughout the course of the 2017/18 season, Sky Sports will exclusively show 127 live matches from the Sky Bet EFL season - including the Play-Offs - as well as 15 matches from the Carabao Cup and at least three from the Checkatrade Trophy.