Middlesbrough travel to Hull City this weekend in an all-important fixture.
Middlesbrough return to Championship action this weekend, as Tony Pulis’s side travel to the KCOM Stadium to play Nigel Adkins’ Hull City.
The Boro beat Preston North End in the Carabao Cup in midweek to advance to the fourth round, but their game this weekend is another important one in their pivotal season.
Pulis made a host of changes as his side travelled to Deepdale on Tuesday evening, but familiar faces will likely return in Middlesbrough’s second successive away trip.
Fringe strikers Rudy Gestede and Ashley Fletcher led the line in midweek, but talisman Martin Braithwaite and the impressive Britt Assombalonga are likely to return this weekend.
Summer arrival George Saville has been excellent since arriving on Teesside and, after being rested against Preston, the Northern Irishman will no doubt be back in midfield.
Goalkeeper Darren Randolph has been the unsung hero in Middlesbrough’s side this season, keeping seven clean sheets in just nine second tier games, and the Republic of Ireland international will also return.
Two players that certainly threw their name into the hat for a place this weekend were 19-year-old midfielder Marcus Tavernier, who grabbed a goal, and 16-year-old central defender Nathan Wood, who was excellent.
Below is how we predict Pulis will set his Middlesbrough side up to face Hull this weekend, with the team remaining unchanged from their last Championship match against Swansea City:
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