At the Riverside, Middlesbrough takes on Birmingham City, and Craig Johns attempts to guess Michael Carrick’s team’s lineup.
Seny Dieng, GK Seny Dieng is without a doubt the best summer acquisition for Boro thus far, according to many. He has emerged in a capacity that is known to be very specialized and has adapted to it effortlessly. The last time out, against Sunderland, there were more significant saves in a second straight clean sheet.
Tommy Smith, DR Smith, who was a mainstay last season when healthy, has had an inconsistent start to the season. When Carrick chose Rav van den Berg over Smith at Sunderland, it felt like a fascinating look inside his mind. However, Smith made full use of his expertise and excelled at the Stadium of Light after the young Dutchman was forced to withdraw due to injury during the warm-up.
Dael Fry – DC For the most part of the season, Fry’s form has been up and down, making it something of a roller coaster. However, he was outstanding against Sunderland the previous game and might play a significant role here. Birmingham has a more conventional center-forward, and Wayne Rooney also utilized one at DC United in Christian Benteke. Thus, Fry’s actual presence might be essential.
DC – Paddy McNair – After missing the last three through illness (the most recent two of which he was back on the bench), Darragh Lenihan will be hoping to come back into the side. Usually you’d say the Irishman is a guaranteed pick when fit, but having been part of a defence that’s kept the first two league clean sheets of the season, can you drop McNair?
DL – Alex Bangura – Lukas Engel has overcome a really tough start and started to rebuild in his last two performances before the international break. But with Bangura returning for small cameos from the bench in those games, the two-week will surely leave him in a better position in terms of his fitness. As much as Engel improved, against a Birmingham side with impressive wide forwards, Bangura might be the better option.
CM – Jonny Howson – Like Lenihan, Howson has been forced to miss the last two through illness. In that time Dan Barlaser came back into the side and highlighted Boro’s strength in depth with two solid performances. It’s harsh on him then if Howson comes straight back into the side. But given Rooney likes to overload the middle of the pitch, and based on how impressive Howson was at Watford, it’s hard not to find a place for him in the team.
CM – Hayden Hackney – An outstanding display for England’s Under-21s during the international break highlighted just how impressive the Redcar-born midfielder is. He continues to be such an influential player in this Boro side despite his formative years.
RW – Isaiah Jones – The wide-man has been in remarkable form since his introduction at Sheffield Wednesday, which even Carrick pinpointed as the moment Boro’s season started to turn at least as far as results are concerned. Jones has gone from strength to strength since then and his performance at Sunderland was one of his best in a Boro shirt.
AM – Matt Crooks – Jones’ reintroduction has also really benefited Crooks, who was struggling for form prior to that. The pair seem to share an almost telepathic connection on the football pitch and really thrive off one another. With the aforementioned preferences of a standard Rooney side to congest and play through the middle, Crooks’s work-rate and willingness to track back could help here too.
LW – Sam Greenwood – Carrick has certainly bluffed before when it comes to injuries, but in suggesting this weekend would come too soon for Riley McGree against his former side, the Boro boss seemed genuine. Greenwood bagged his first goal for Boro against his boyhood club and covered for McGree’s absence better than anyone previously this term. He’s the obvious choice to retain his place.
ST – Josh Coburn – Carrick is showing a lot of faith in Coburn right now and the young striker is justifying that with his all-round performances. He does have Latte Lath making major impacts from the bench to keep him on his toes though. If the Ivorian continues his current form you feel he might get the chance to come back into the starting XI at some point, but that only serves as extra motivation for Coburn to ensure he keeps his foot on the gas and doesn’t offer the opening.
