^ CLICK IMAGE ABOVE TO SEE THE 4 BIGGEST EFL NEWS STORIES OF THE DAY ^

As we look ahead to a full programme of fixtures throughout the EFL, here we pause briefly to consider the four biggest EFL news stories of the day....

West Brom striker Charlie Austin has been asked by the FA to explain offensive comments aimed at Southampton fans on social media, it is being reported by the PA news agency, after the 30-year-old, who left the Saints to join the Baggies last summer, responded to criticism on Twitter on Saturday.

The FA has contacted Austin to seek his observations about the incident and if the FA finds there is a case, Austin could be charged with misconduct or bringing the game into disrepute.

Adam Armstrong’s form at Blackburn Rovers has not gone unnoticed, with Premier League clubs keeping an eye on the 22-year-old, according to a report on ChronicleLive, after Armstrong took his tally to 10 goals for the season with a 25-yard stunner in the win over Hull City this weekend.

Armstrong, 23, scored nine times last season, and the same number during his loan spell from Newcastle United in the second half of the 2017/18 League One promotion campaign.

Former Middlesbrough forward Martin Braithwaite appears to be edging closer to a shock move to Barcelona, according to a report by the Hartlepool Mail, after the Spanish giants were given permission to sign an emergency striker by La Liga following long-term injuries to Ousmane Dembele and Luis Suarez.

Several names have been linked with a move to Barca, and reports have emerged that Leganes forward Braithwaite was a potential option, and it’s now been claimed the player’s agent is in Catalonia for talks.

There is further pressure on Leeds United manager Marcelo Bielsa to gain promotion to the Premier League this season, with Spurs the latest club to express an interest in signing midfielder Kalvin Phillips in the summer if the Whites fail to go up, according to a report by Football Insider.

Tottenham see Phillips as capable of giving them something they haven’t got, an expert protector of the defence who can launch attacks with a wide range of passing.