Middlesbrough remain unbeaten this season in all competitions after a recent 1-0 win over West Bromwich Albion.
Tony Pulis’ Middlesbrough side beat West Brom in the final knockings last Friday, keeping the unbeaten side in the Championship automatic promotion spots.
However, the games are coming thick and fast and the Boro will play two games this week, one in the second-round of the Carabao Cup against Rochdale and a mouth-watering tie on Friday away to Leeds.
And with the Leeds game in Pulis’ mind, the 60-year-old will likely be keen to make wholesale changes against the Dale on Tuesday evening.
The side who sit second in the second tier table came through the first-round on penalties against Notts County and Pulis fielded several youngsters, who didn’t disappoint on the night.
The Teeside team still have a few injuries in their squad, with Harry Chapman who featured in the first-round win out with a shoulder injury and forward Rudy Gestede unlikely to play with an ongoing ankle problem.
Last season’s loan departure Ashley Fletcher bagged two goals in the first-round tie against County and Pulis could be keen to field him to once again in order to get game time and fire the Boro into the next round.
Goalkeeper Andy Lonergan made the winning saves in the penalty shoot-out and will most likely remain as number one stopper for Middlesbrough’s Cup campaign’s.
Below is how we think Middlesbrough will line-up against League One Rochdale, with eight changes to the side that edged out West Brom last week.
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