Middlesbrough need to get their 2024/25 Championship season off to a positive start versus Swansea City.
Boro should be feeling confident going into their meeting with Swansea City on August 10th after a solid pre-season.
Michael Carrick was able to guide his Middlesbrough team to four wins and one draw across their summer schedule.
Their last outing saw the Teessiders earn an impressive 1-0 win over Eredivisie side SC Heerenveen, with manager Robin van Persie praising Middlesbrough after the match.
Steve Gibson has backed his club well in the transfer market this summer as well, with four new players moving to the Riverside Stadium.
Further additions could still happen this month, with Michah Hamilton set to join Middlesbrough from Manchester City.
The attacking midfielder is unlikely to play any role against Swansea this weekend but he is certainly a player to look out for in the 2024/25 Championship season.
Middlesbrough team news for Swansea City
Boro suffered heavily with injuries last term, with an average of 6.5 players missing per match.
While the club have welcomed back several of their previously injured stars over the summer, there are still a few problems going into this weekend’s game.
Rav van den Berg, who came off late with tightness in his groin in Boro’s last friendly, is fine to feature against Swansea.
However, two other Middlesbrough centre-backs, Dael Fry and Daragah Leinhan, are doubts for Saturday.
The duo have had minor issues in pre-season and Carrick is managing their minutes, meaning they are unlikely to start this week.
Elsewhere, Jonny Howson got his foot trodden on against Heerenveen and there was a bit of a twist.
As a result, the midfielder is still being assessed and his involvement against Swansea is up in the air.
Alex Bangura, Marcus Forss, and Tommy Smith are long-term absentees and will miss out as well.
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Middlesbrough predicted XI vs Swansea City
With Howson a doubt for Saturday, new signing Aidan Morris will likely come into midfield and partner Hayden Hackney.
Carrick likely wants to give the American more time to embed himself before giving him his first start but Morris is the best option to replace the Boro captain.
Further back, Fry and Leinhan’s issues mean a centre-back duo of Van den Berg and Matt Clarke is likely to be used against the Welsh outfit.
In attack, meanwhile, the Boro boss has selection dilemmas on both wings going into the game.
Sonny Finch has impressed out of position on the right in Forss’ absence during pre-season but Isaiah Jones will likely take that spot due to his experience.
There is also some debate over who should start on the left out of Delano Burgzorg and Riley McGree.
Burgzorg scored twice in pre-season but again, Carrick will likely opt for the experience of McGree over the new signing.
Here’s how we think Middlesbrough will line up against Swansea on Saturday…
Dieng (GK)
Ayling
Van den Berg
Clarke
Engel
Hackney
Morris
Jones
Azaz
McGree
Latte Lath