European preview: England Div One

Masinga has linked up with former Leeds team-mate Gordon Strachan at Coventry

BBC Sport Online's Filippo Maria Ricci continues a regular series previewing the new season for African players in Europe's major leagues by focusing on Division One in England

African interest in England's second level should be greater than usual thanks to some late transfers, including big names in southern Africa.

Striker Phil Masinga returns to England after four seasons at Bari in Italy's Serie A ended in relegation.

The South African has been snapped up by former Leeds team-mate Gordon Strachan for Coventry who went down from the Premiership after 34 years in the top flight.

Chippo (l) and Hadji have parted company

City will be looking to the South African and new £5m signing Lee Hughes to fire them back at the first attempt.

Coventry sent Moroccan midfielder Mustapha Hadji to Aston Villa in part-exchange for Julian Joachim, but kept hold of another Atlas Lion in combative Youssef Chippo.

Redknapp remembers

Zimbabwe midfielder Norman Mapeza has joined Portsmouth from Austrian side SV Ried after previously spending six seasons in Turkey's top flight.

He had previously impressed on trial at West Ham, and when then-manager Harry Redknapp moved to Portsmouth as director of football, he remembered the Warriors' captain and moved in.

Walsall continued their tradition of innovative signings by moving for young Nigerian striker Adolphus Ofodile from eastern German third division side Magdeburg.

Tinkler is finally back in action

Burnley snapped up young Ivorian defender David Gnohere just before the season started. The 22-year-old was a regular in the French second division with Caen for the last two seasons.

South African Eric Tinkler returns to action with Barnsley after missing all last season with groin and pelvic problems, made worse by an infection picked up on the operating table.

His return is a big boost to club and country, and the midfielder has already been named in the latest South Africa squad.

Permanent move

Nigerian striker Efan Ekoku has completed his permanent switch to Sheffield Wednesday, where he spent most of last season on loan from Grasshoppers Zurich.

Ipoua is settled at Gillingham

Cameroonian forward Guy Ipoua is hoping to make a big impact with Gillingham, having joined them halfway through last season from Division Three side Scunthorpe where he had been scoring freely.

Many eyes will be on Manchester City, and whether they can make a quick return to the Premiership under Kevin Keegan.

He could give a first team chance to a very promising Nigerian defender, Dixon Etuhu, who is just 19.

Etuhu is one of eight Nigerians in Division One, a third of the total of 24 African players. Sheffield United are again the most African team, with strikers Patrick Suffo (Cameroon) and Laurent D'Jaffo (Benin) as well as young Cameroon pair Kingsley Mbome and Buba Yohanna.