Aussies Abroad: Championship returns, Socceroos face off in Scotland

Check out our wrap of all the recent Aussies Abroad action and preview of what is to come!

Starting in Japan, where Mitch Duke played a full match as his J2 League outfit Machida Zelvia, who lost 1-0 to Thomas Deng's J1 side Albirex Niigata in the Emperor's Cup fourth round on Wednesday.

Duke is likely to feature in the J2 League again on Saturday at 8pm (AEST) as he faces his former side Fagiano Okayama. Machida are six points clear at the top of the table with a game in hand.

While Deng did not feature in the Cup win, he could return to J1 League action on Saturday at 8pm (AEST) when Niigata face Mitch Langerak's Nagoya Grampus.

Langerak was also in goal and kept a clean sheet in the Emperor's Cup on Wednesday as Nagoya progressed with a 3-0 win over Urawa Reds.

In the K1 League, Harrison Delbridge could also be in action for Incheon United on Sunday at 8pm (AEST) when they face Jeonbuk. Incheon are eighth in the league but only one point out of the championship round ahead of the split.

Over to Singapore, where Bailey Wright is likely to start again for Lion City Sailors when they travel to Tampines Rovers on Friday at 9:45pm (AEST). Wright scored a brace in a 5-2 win on his return from suspension against Balestier Khalsa.

In the USA, Brad Smith was an unused substitute for Houston Dynamo FC on Thursday in the Leagues Cup Round of 32 as they advanced with a 5-3 penalty shootout win after the match against Pachuca finished 0-0.

Over to England, where the Championship will kick off on Sunday at 12am (AEST) as Riley McGree's Middlesbrough begin their promotion push with a home tie against Millwall. Fellow Socceroo Tom Glover and Subway Olyroo Sammy Silvera could also appear.

After taking the reins mid-season, Michael Carrick took Middlesbrough from 21st to 4th in the Championship while McGree contributed with six goals and three assists.

Elsewhere in the Championship, Harry Souttar's Leicester City kick off their campaign on Sunday at 9pm (AEST) as they bid to regain their Premier League status with an opener against Coventry.

The 2015/16 Premier League winners are back in the Championship, but they will see it as an opportunity for a reset rather than to panic.

Massimo Luongo could also return to Championship action when Ipswich Town face Sunderland on Monday at 2am (AEST).

In League One, Kenny Dougall could be in action for Blackpool in their season opener against Burton on Sunday at 12am (AEST).

Last season was a disaster culminating in their relegation from the Championship, however, this season there is cause for optimism and a return to England's second tier will be the objective.

Elsewhere in League One, Callum Elder could make his debut for Derby County when they host Wigan Athletic on Sunday at 12am (AEST).

The full-back joined Derby on a three-year deal in the summer of 2023 following the expiration of his contract at Championship side Hull City.

Over to Scotland, where Martin Boyle could continue his return from injury alongside James Jeggo when Hibernian host Keanu Baccus and Ryan Strain's St Mirren in their Scottish Premiership season opener on Monday at 12am (AEST). Subway Olyroo Lewis Miller could also appear for Hibs.

Boyle played 55 minutes and scored two goals as Hibs overturned a 2-1 deficit to thump Inter Club d'Escaldes 6-1 and move safely into the next round of the Europa Conference League on Friday. Jeggo and Miller were unused substitutes.

Hibs now turn their attention to improving on their eighth-placed finish last term in the Scottish Premiership while St Mirren will be hoping to improve on their first-ever top 6 finish since the split was introduced to the Scottish top flight.

Elsewhere in Scotland, Marco Tilio could make his competitive Celtic debut when they kick off their title defense against Ross County on Saturday at 9:30pm (AEST).

Tilio moved from Melbourne City, breaking the previous Australian transfer record set by teammate Jordan Bos following his switch to Belgium just over a month earlier.

He became the second acquisition since Brendan Rodgers returned to the club as manager this month and will also link up with fellow Aussie Harry Kewell.

The 21-year-old, who has seven caps for the Subway Socceroos, enjoyed a stellar 2022/23 campaign with City, scoring 10 goals and registering six assists in 29 league appearances.

The Celts have won 17 of 23 Scottish titles since the turn of the millennium so anything less than a third consecutive title will be a failure.

READ MORE: Socceroos on the move: All of the recent Aussies Abroad transfers

Nathaniel Atkinson, Cameron Devlin and Kye Rowles could also be in action when Heart of Midlothian travel to Ryan McGowan's St Johnstone on Sunday at 12am (AEST).

Subway Olyroo Calem Nieuwenhof could also make his debut. The 22-year-old swapped the Isuzu UTE A-League for Scotland after his breakout season in Western Sydney.

Aziz Behich could also feature for Dundee United in the Scottish Championship with their season kicking off against Arbroath on Saturday 4.45am (AEST).

While various leagues around the United Kingdom and Europe will begin this weekend, the Belgian First Division A will continue for the matchday as Jordan Bos could start again for KVC Westerlo when they face Club Brugge on Monday at 2:30am (AEST). Westerlo kicked off their season with a 2-2 draw with Eupen and Bos played 90 minutes.

Elsewhere in Belgium, Aiden O'Neill could start again for Standard Liege when they face Royale Union Saint-Gilloise on Saturday at 4:45am (AEST). O'Neill also played 90 minutes in Standard Liege's 1-0 loss to STVV on matchday one.

Jason Davidson could also be in action when KAS Eupen face GENK on Sunday at 12am (AEST).

Over to Germany, where Jackson Irvine and Connor Metcalfe will also continue their 2. Bundesliga campaigns with St. Pauli when they host Fortuna Düsseldorf on Sunday at 4:30am (AEST). Irvine registered an assist last weekend as the Hamburg-based side opened the new season with a 2-1 triumph over FC Kaiserslautern.

Milos Degenek could also start again for FK Crvena zvezda in Serbia when they face Napredak on Sunday at 4:05am (AEST).

In Norway, the Eliteserien will continue for Gianni Stensness, Nick D'Agostino and Subway Olyroo Patrick Yazbek's Viking Fotballklubb when they face FK Bodø/Glimt on Monday at 3:15am (AEST).

The Austrian Bundesliga will also continue for James Holland's Austria Vienna when they travel to Austria Lustenau on Monday at 1am (AEST).

Holland played 90 minutes on Friday in Europa Conference League qualifying as Vienna advanced with a 3-1 aggregate win over Borac.

In Spain, Awer Mabil could be in action for Cadiz in a pre-season friendly against Cordoba on Saturday at 4:30am (AEST).

Denis Genreau could also be in friendly action when Toulouse face Roma on Monday at 3:30am (AEST).

Maty Ryan is also likely to be in friendly action when AZ Alkmaar face Bologna on Sunday at 1am (AEST).

Starting in England, where Nicholas Bilokapic could appear for Peterborough United when they kick off their campaign against Reading on Sunday at 12am (AEST).

Nectarios Triantis could make his Championship debut Sunderland face Ipswich Town FC on Monday at 2am (AEST).

Elsewhere in England, Jay Rich-Baghuelou could continue his return from injury as Accrington Stanley face Newport County on Sunday at 12am (AEST) as they kick off the League One season.

Matt Dench is also a chance to feature for Charlton Athletic FC when they face Leyton Orient on Sunday at 12am (AEST).

In Belgium, Keegan Jelacic could be in the squad for KAA Gent's tie against Mechelen on Monday at 12am (AEST).

In the German 2 Bundesliga, John Iredale could start again for SV Wehen Wiesbaden when they continue their campaign against Hertha Berlin on Saturday at 2am (AEST).

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