Middlesbrough will be looking to make it three wins in a row on Tuesday night.
Michael Carrick‘s side host Birmingham City at St Andrew’s, in what is a game in hand on much of the rest of the Championship.
‘Boro go into this one on the back of two consecutive wins over Norwich City and QPR in the past week.
That means they currently sit 11th in the Championship table, eight points adrift of the play-off places.
It is therefore likely Middlesbrough will need a win here, if they are to keep their chances of securing a top six spot alive.
Birmingham City by contrast, are in a battle to avoid relegation from the Championship. The Blues currently sit 21st in the Championship standings, just a point clear of the relegation zone.
They have also taken just a single point from their last four games. That is since ‘Boro legend Tony Mowbray temporarily stepped back from his role as manager for medical reasons, with his assistant Mark Venus currently in interim charge.
This could therefore be something of an opportunity for Middlesbrough to pick up another win here.
Latest Middlesbrough team news
Going into this one, Carrick has admitted that some members of his team are carrying ‘knocks’ that may have to be managed.
The workload of striker Emmanuel Latte Lath and midfielder Jonny Howson could also be assessed. The duo have started the last three and two games respectively, on their returns from injury.
Meanwhile, centre backs Dael Fry and Darragh Lenihan, right-back Tommy Smith, left-back Alex Bangura, midfielder Hayden Hackney and striker Josh Coburn are all longer-term absentees and doubts.
How could Michael Carrick line up vs Birmingham City
Given his comments about managing his team, it will be interesting to see if Carrick names an unchanged side for the third game in a row here.
Seny Dieng is one player who ought to keep his place, having been first choice between the posts for Middlesbrough throughout this season.
The switch to a back three has worked for ‘Boro in these past couple of games. With Lenihan and Fry out, Paddy McNair, Rav van den Berg and Matt Clarke could again make up those central defensive options.
Luke Ayling and Lukas Engel have impressed in the wing-back roles in the last two outings. As a result, they may keep those spots for this one.
If Middlesbrough do choose to be careful with Howson, which could be sensible given his importance, Dan Barlaser could come back in to partner Lewis O’Brien in the centre of midfield.
In attack, Riley McGree could continue in the number ten role. That may then see Leeds United loanee Sam Greenwood come back into the side to partner Marcus Forss in leading the line at centre forward, if Latte Lath does not make it for this one.
Here is how we think Middlesbrough could line up vs Birmingham City:
Dieng (GK)
Engel
Clarke
van den Berg
McNair
Ayling
O’Brien
Barlaser
McGree
Greenwood
Forss