Thank the lord for August! Non-believers everywhere may argue that it feels like football has not even bothered with the traditional summer break this year, but to the die-hards it just cannot be justified. The Confederations Cup can only fill so much of the football void and pre-season friendlies, whilst useful for checking out kids and newboys alike, simply lack the passion and watchability of a competitive game.

So how happy was I last night to find not one, but two competitive games on my television. ESPN's new Bundesliga coverage kicked off with Champions Wolfsburg against hopefuls Stuttgart, whilst in the Coca Cola Championship Gareth Southgate's induction to lower level football arrived with a home game for Middlesbrough against last season's play-off finalists Sheffield United.

And how welcome they were. Ok so the drama was hardly Hollywood-stuff (unless you count Ben Affleck films), and the results were pretty much expected- a draw at Boro, at home win at Wolfsburg- but just seeing the competitive game back on our screens was a joy to behold.

Wolfsburg were the surprise, yet welcome, Meisterschaft winners last season, with a team built around an attacking triumburante of Bosnian's Edin Džeko & Zvjezdan Misimović, and Brazilian Grafite, whilst Stuttgart finished third to secure a Champions League qualifying tie against Romanian outfit FC Timişoara.

Neither of the former Premier League stars signed this summer- Wolfsburg's Obafemi Martins & Stuttgart's Aliaksandr Hleb- made an appearance, but there was a familiar enough feel to proceedings at the Volkswagen Arena as both sides attacked with vigour, but the Champions' attacking stars proved decisive. Misimović broke the deadlock twenty minutes from time with a beautifully placed left foot curler past Jens Lehmann from 20 yards, before the powerful Grafite- presented with the German Player of the Year award to rapturous applause prior to kick off- blasted past the hapless Serdar Tasci to confidently slot the clincher home right footed.

It was probably deserved, though the visitors had threatened intermittantly through Germany's latest call-up, midfielder Sami Khedira, and new Russian striker Pavel Pogrebnyak, who looked a lively and physical option up front. Wolfsburg, as expected, played mainly through Misimović, though new signing Karim Ziani & left back Marcel Schäfer made impressive contributions also. New Wolves coach Armin Veh can sleep soundly tonight knowing that, on the face of things at least, the status quo of the Champions has not been disturbed.

For Stuttgart on the other hand, things should not be too gloomy. Pogrebnyak looks a good signing, whilst Hleb & Khedira should provide an admirable thrust and creativity to the midfield. Markus Babbel was left frustrated by the loss of midfielder Christian Träsch to injury shortly after his third and final substitute had been sent on, but has little reason to be downbeat. His side matched the Champions for long periods of the game, and look a decent bet for at least a repeat of last season's third place on this showing.

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At Middlesbrough, things were a little less exciting. A goal-less start to the new season may have been predictable- Boro were as insipid as any in front of goal last season- but there were still intriguing elements to their game with Kevin Blackwell's Blades.

New signing Mark Yeates, signed from Colchester, looks a shrewd Championship acquisiton. Blessed with two good feet and a willingness to demand and receive possession, the former Spurs trainee was one of few bright sparks in a Boro side still seemingly coming to terms with relegation from a league they had graced for eleven years. Top flight experience may have been present in the likes of Robert Huth, Didier Digard (who departed with a groin injury), Gary O'Neil, Jérémie Aliadière & David Wheater, but it was a similar tale which beset Southgate's men. One of a lack of guile, pace and general attacking intelligence.

Winger Adam Johnson is highly rated, and has reportedly been courted by the likes of Chelsea and Real Madrid in the past, yet his trickiness on the wings was repeatedly undone by an inability to find a telling ball, whilst the strike duo of Aliadière & Dutchman Marvin Emnes posed about as much threat as Hollyoaks at the soap awards. Even the introducton of Leroy Lita- an example of how Southgate's sights have had to be realigned this summer- changed little, as Sheffield United's canny defensive duo Chris Morgan & Matt Kilgallon coped with ease.

For Kevin Blackwell, the signs are altogether more promising. His side possess a midfield blessed with players who can pass and shoot with accuracy, Stephen Quinn buzzed around the pitch effervescently throughout, whilst Brian Howard remains one of the best technicians in the league, and Nick Montgomery- derided by some due to deficiencies in his forward play- provides an invaluable screen in front of a more than useful back four.

One which featured the on-loan Tottenham defender Kyle Walker, a player rated highly by Harry Redknapp (along with 536289 others, most of whom he has bid for). Walker showed both sides to his game last night, the pace to recover when his positioning caught him out, but also the naivety of youth and improvable crossing from right back. Spurs will hope a season in the unforgiving Championship will help iron out those particular wrinkles.

All in all, a decent night's viewing. Only two goals of course, but two that were pleasing on the eye. And a glimpse into what the future holds for at least one of the North East's fallen giants, with Newcastle's trip to West Brom to follow this tea-time. More importantly, football is back, and to that I say, wilkommen!