Ipswich Town away on the first day of the season will be a good 'barometer' of the challenge Barnsley face in the Championship, says head coach Paul Heckingbottom.

The Reds begin their post-promotion campaign in Suffolk on August 6 against a side managed by their former player Mick McCarthy. They then face another familiar face in Paul Wilkinson who left his role as Barnsley's under 21 manager last week to become assistant at Northampton Town and who will return to Oakwell for the first round of the EFL Cup, formerly the League Cup. That is set to be Barnsley's first home game of the season on August 9 or 10.

Heckingbottom said: "Mick McCarthy's teams are always very, very competitive.  Playing them first will be a good barometer for what we can expect against Championship teams.  I am sure Ipswich will challenge for promotion come the end of the season and it's a tough first game but one we will look forward to very much.

"Mick is a fantastic manager, who has managed at international level and got a couple of promotions to the Premier League. He's been there, seen it and done it.

"Wilko has just gone to Northampton so it will be good to see him again.  Northampton have come off the back of a promotion season like us so they will be full of confidence.  We want to win every game and do as well as we can in the cup competitions."

Barnsley will renew a host of Yorkshire rivalries after returning to the Championship following a two-year absence while they finish the campaign at relegated giants Newcastle United.

Heckingbottom said: "Looking at the list of clubs we are going to play it really hits home again what we have achieved in getting promoted. "he fixtures coming out takes us one step closer to kick-off. It's nice to see it down in black and white.

"You look at the games and every week there is a big game. We have a lot of big stadiums to go to which, no disrespect to League One, will be a big change.  It will be very different but we will enjoy it and I hope the fans enjoy their days out as well. The Championship is a different world to League One."