Middlesbrough face a tough test versus Chris Wilder’s Sheffield United on Wednesday evening.
Boro welcome Sheffield United to the Riverside Stadium for a Championship clash on October 23rd, kicking off at 8pm BST.
Middlesbrough are aiming to get back to winning ways and secure a much-needed three points in order to keep their promotion hopes alive.
The Teessiders go into the midweek action sat ninth in the Championship table, four points off the play-offs and already seven away from the automatic promotion places.
As a result, anything but a win against their former manager’s side will no doubt come as a major blow to their chances of securing promotion back to the Premier League this season.
That will be easier said than done though as Sheffield United have lost just one Championship fixture so far this season and are only two points adrift of the top-two despite having a points deduction at the start of the season.
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Middlesbrough team news for Sheffield United
For the first time this season, Michael Carrick largely has a fully-fit squad to pick from going into Wednesday’s game.
Marcus Forss is making his way back to fitness, coming off the bench when Middlesbrough lost 2-0 to Bristol City last time out.
Tommy Conway also made the matchday squad after recovering from an issue he picked up prior to the October international break.
Unless something has happened in training early this week, Boro are only expected to be without two senior players for this game now Dael Fry and Jonny Howson are nearing a return to action.
Alex Bangura and right-back Tommy Smith are both long-term absentees and there is currently no timeframe for when the duo will return to the squad.
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Middlesbrough predicted XI vs Sheffield United
The Middlesbrough manager is likely to make a few changes to his starting line-up in midweek to try and get his side’s campaign back on track.
Emmanuel Latte Lath has been Boro’s primary number nine this season but after failing to score from open play in 10 appearances, he could be dropped with summer addition Tommy Conway instead starting in his place.
There are also likely to be a couple of changes to Middlesbrough’s attacking midfield trio, with Alex Gilbert coming into the number 10 role in place of a struggling Finn Azaz, while Riley McGree must start on the left.
Mark Schwarzer dubbed McGree a ‘really good’ player earlier this season, with it clear the North East outfit are much stronger defensively when he is in the eleven.
At the back, after George Edmundson’s error vs Bristol City, Matt Clarke is now likely to partner Rav van den Berg at centre-back.
Here’s how we think Middlesbrough will line up against Sheffield United on Wednesday…
Dieng (GK)
Ayling
Van den Berg
Clarke
Borges
Hackney
Morris
Doak
Gilbert
McGree
Conway