Team News Confirmed For Middlesbrough Clash

Manager Phillip Cocu has made seven changes to the side which beat Crystal Palac in the Third Round of the Emirates FA Cup for this afternoon’s Sky Bet Championship fixture against Middlesbrough (3pm kick-off).

Only Jayden Bogle, Curtis Davies, Tom Lawrence and captain Wayne Rooney retain their place in the starting XI from the cup victory as the Rams aim for their fourth consecutive victory in all competitions.

There's only two changes from the last league fixture against Barnsley on 2nd January as goals from Jack Marriott and Martyn Waghorn secured all three points in Derby's first game of 2020 as they ran out 2-1 winners.

There is a starting spot for youngster Max Bird in midfield, who has impressed in recent weeks since his emergence into the squad in recent weeks.

Ben Hamer also returns in goal whilst Matt Clarke, who made his comeback from injury in the 2-1 win over Charlton Athletic before the New Year, starts alongside Davies.

Marriott misses out completely this afternoon with a minor injury whilst Tom Huddlestone, who made his return against Palace last week, settles for a place on the substitutes' bench.

Here are the teams:

Middlesbrough: Pears, Roberts, Fry, Saville, Tavernier, Wing, Fletcher, Spence, Howson (C), Coulson, McNair.

Substitutes: Mejias, Clayton, Gestede, Nmecha, Johnson, Wood, Liddle.

Derby County: Hamer, Waghorn, Lawrence, Clarke, Holmes, Lowe, Rooney (C), Davies, Bogle, Knight, Bird.

Substitutes: Roos, Wisdom, Forsyth, Martin, Huddlestone, Malone, Whittaker.