Middlesbrough return to the Riverside this afternoon, where they welcome Plymouth Argyle in the Championship.
Middlesbrough are back on home turf after a successful away mission at Leicester City last time out.
Michael Carrick watched his side earn a 2-1 win at the home of the league leaders, with goals coming from Finn Azaz and Sammy Silvera.
The win ended a run of two-straight defeats and also a run of five games in all competitions without a win for Middlesbrough, who now find themselves in 13th place of the table and 10 points outside the top six.
Plymouth meanwhile sit in 17th and haven’t won in any of their last four league outings, losing 3-0 at home to West Brom last time out, the Green Army sit 23rd in the away form table this season.
Latest Middlesbrough team news
The one positive bit of team news ahead of this one is that striker Emmanuel Latte Lath could be poised to return vs Plymouth, following a foot injury.
But Carrick has more negative injury news than positive, with all of Jonny Howson, Hayden Hackney, and Isaiah Jones sidelined, whilst Teesside Live say that Dael Fry is a bout for today’s game as well.
How will Michael Carrick line up vs Plymouth Argyle?
Against Leicester City, Boro lined up with five at the back and two more advanced wing-backs in Lukas Engel and Luke Ayling, with four in midfield and Silvera leading the line.
And Middlesbrough looked good; they countered well and did what they could with very limited possession and chances.
But whether or not Middlesbrough keep the same shape today remains to be seen; Plymouth are out of form and woeful on the road, so Carrick might fancy going more advanced and attacking in a bid to really dominate today’s game.
That could mean a change back to a more familiar 4-2-3-1.
Then expect Tom Glover to keep his place in goal, with the 28-year-old Paddy McNair possibly the sacrifice from the defensive five; he played well against Leicester but is lacking match practise.
Midfield is a bit more tricky given injuries to Howson and Hackney, but that arguably leaves online Lewis O’Brien and Dan Barlaser as options in the middle, so expect them two to sit in front of the defence, with Finn Azaz behind a lone striker; Latte Lath should start on the bench, with Silvera and Sam Greenwood battling for the starting spot today.
Then on either flank we should see Riley McGree on the left, with Marcus Forss returning on the right.
Here’s how we think Middlesbrough will line up this afternoon…
Glover (GK)
Ayling
van den Berg
Clarke
Engel
Barlaser
O’Brien
Forss
Azaz
McGree
Greenwood