MIDDLESBROUGH v BLACKBURN ROVERS EARLY TEAM NEWS
Robbie Savage will be pushing for a return to Blackburn's midfield at Middlesbrough after missing the second half of last season with a broken leg.
Fellow long-term absentee Steven Reid will not be in the squad, however, as he suffered a hamstring strain in training this week, while Swiss defender Bruno Berner is out for several months after breaking a bone in his foot.
New signing Roque Santa Cruz is expected to make his debut in attack alongside Benni McCarthy.
Turkish international Tuncay Sanli will have his first taste of English football when he makes his Middlesbrough bow.
The 25-year-old is expected to play wide on the right, allowing fellow new signing Jeremie Aliadiere to partner Yakubu up front.
Former Charlton right-back Luke Young is the third new signing expected to make his competitive Boro debut.
Gareth Southgate is without centre-acks Jonathan Woodgate, Robert Huth and Emanuel Pogatetz, all of whom are recovering from operations, while midfielder Fabio Rochemback starts a three-match ban.
Southgate is expected to choose between Chris Riggott, Andrew Davies and David Wheater to form his centre-back partnership.
Middlesbrough (from): Schwarzer, Jones, Young, Taylor, Hines, Riggott, Davies, Wheater, Tuncay, Arca, Boateng, Downing, Cattermole, Johnson, Yakubu, Aliadiere, Dong-Gook.
Blackburn (from): Friedel, Enckelman, Olsson, Ooijer, Nelsen, Samba, Warnock, Khizanishvili, Emerton, Mokoena, Tugay, Dunn, Bentley, Savage, Pedersen, McCarthy, Santa Cruz, Rigters, Roberts, Derbyshire.
By Bettingzone.co.uk
Used with permission.
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