Middlesbrough take on Bristol City in a Championship clash on Saturday afternoon at the Riverside Stadium.
Boro are aiming to get back to winning ways this weekend after signing off for the October international break with a 2-1 defeat at the hands of Watford.
That loss saw Michael Carrick’s side slip out of the top-six and down to ninth in the Championship table.
But the Teessiders could move back into the play-off places should they beat the Robins at the Riverside Stadium.
Middlesbrough are predicted to beat Bristol City but it is worth noting that the Reds have won just one of their last seven Championship fixtures against them, including suffering two defeats during the 2023/24 campaign.
Boro should be clear favourites for this tie, however, as Bristol have picked up just two wins from their opening nine fixtures of the season so far, drawing a surprisingly high five times.
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Middlesbrough team news for Bristol City
Matt Clarke returned to the bench against Watford earlier this month and is in contention to regain his starting berth alongside another recently-returned star, Rav van den Berg.
Long-term absentee Dael Fry is also back in contention after finally returning to training after several injury issues that have kept him out since January. But he is unlikely to be fit enough to start the game this weekend.
Elsewhere, Boro captain Jonny Howson is also closing in on a return but the game may come too soon for him, while Hayden Hackney picked up an injury on international duty with England’s U21s.
Ahead of the game, Carrick provided an injury update on Tommy Conway, with the striker potentially set to return against Bristol City.
He said: “Ye we will have to see on Tommy.
“I mean obviously he didn’t go away with Scotland and he’s missed a period of time, so we’ll have to see, couple of days left if we can get him back around it and involved on Saturday then great.”
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Middlesbrough predicted XI vs Bristol City
Aidan Morris has been a star player for Boro this season, becoming a key asset almost instantly after his summer move from Columbus Crew.
Morris was named Middlesbrough’s signing of the summer last month and it is easy to see why given his form of late.
However, the American was once again on international duty on Wednesday and faced a long trip back to the North East.
After making the same journey in the September break, Carrick opted to drop Morris for Dan Barlaser in Boro’s first game back in action and that is likely to be the case this week as well.
Clarke should also come back into the eleven as he was in top form prior to his injury while Riley McGree should start on the left-wing, with it clear Middlesbrough are much stronger defensively when he is in the eleven.
Here’s how we think Middlesbrough will line up against Bristol City on Saturday…
Dieng (GK)
Ayling
Van den Berg
Clarke
Borges
Hackney
Barlaser
Doak
Azaz
McGree
Latte Lath