Middlesbrough travel to Deepdale to face a buoyant Preston North End for their midweek Championship fixture on Wednesday evening.
Preston are enjoying a run that has seen them defeated just once in the last five Championship matches, including wins against Ipswich and Bristol City.
Michael Carrick will be hoping that his troops can temporarily escape the shackles of their poor home form by giving the travelling support something to cheer as they attempt to keep alive their faltering play-off hopes.
Middlesbrough have won just once in the last five league games, leaking goals and struggling to score them at the other end in the process.
That could massively impact the selection process for Carrick who must find a way of shoring up his defence, but not at the detriment of his side’s usual attacking intent.
Michael Carrick’s selection error
In the club’s previous match against Bristol City, Carrick made a selection error in the eyes of many. He played local favourite Hayden Hackney further up the pitch in more of a 10 role than his usual position alongside Jonny Howson at the base of Boro’s midfield. In doing so, he was able to bring in Lewis O’Brien alongside Dan Barlaser as the two central midfielders.
The move did not work and O’Brien and Barlaser were overrun. Carrick changed O’Brien and Hackney after around half an hour, putting Hackney back in his more accustomed deeper role and he felt it gave the side ‘more balance’. Unfortunately the damage was done as Middlesbrough were 2-0 down and chasing the game.
It now seems likely that Hackney will be played in that familiar role alongside the evergreen Howson. The pair know each other’s game and compliment one another well. There is arguably more energy in that pairing than any other too.
Latest Middlesbrough team news
There are no fresh injury concerns for Boro’s head coach to contend with. Josh Coburn will miss out again through his ongoing groin issue. However, Carrick was able to deliver good news via his pre-match press conference regarding forward Emmanuel Latte Lath who has been missing since the first leg of the Chelsea cup tie. The Ivorian is back in training and could be ready in a week or so, but will not be risked against Preston.
Attacking options can’t come quick enough at the moment. Sam Greenwood has worked hard and put the effort in over the last few games and looks set to continue in his makeshift role up front.
How will Boro line up vs Preston?
Behind Greenwood, it looks almost certain that Riley McGree will make his first start since his return from international duty at The Asian Cup. The Aussie play-maker has been sorely missed and should play on the left-hand side, allowing Finn Azaz to play behind the striker. Azaz was more effective when he shuffled into the 10 during the defeat to Bristol City.
In goal, Seny Dieng should make his long anticipated return after an absence that spans from early December. He was on the bench last at the weekend and looks set to wrestle the no.1 shirt back from the 26-year-old Tom Glover.
Despite a clamour for him to be cast as Middlesbrough’s central striker, Marcus Forss is set to continue on the right in place of the injured Isaiah Jones, who will remain out for the forthcoming weeks.
Here is the predicted XI to face the in-form Preston…
GK – Dieng
RB – Ayling
LB – Engel
CB – Fry
CB – van den Berg
CM – Howson
CM – Hackney
RW – Forss
LW – McGree
CAM – Azaz
ST – Greenwood