GARRY MONK has made one change to his Middlesbrough side for this afternoon's Championship game with Cardiff City.

Jonny Howson returns to the starting line-up, and will partner Grant Leadbitter at the heart of the Boro midfield.

Howson replaces Adam Clayton, who drops out of the side that drew 2-2 at Barnsley last weekend.

Adama Traore was not involved in the squad at Oakwell after missing the bus on the day before the game, but the winger is named on the substitutes' bench this afternoon.

There are two former Boro players in the Cardiff squad, with Joe Bennett starting at left-back and Lee Tomlin on the visitors' bench.

MIDDLESBROUGH (4-2-3-1): Randolph; Christie, Ayala, Gibson, Fabio; Leadbitter, Howson; Downing, Braithwaite, Fletcher; Assombalonga.

Subs: Konstantopoulos (gk), Friend, Fry, Clayton, Johnson, Traore, Bamford.

CARDIFF (4-1-4-1): Etheridge; Peltier, Morrison, Manga, Bennett; Bamba; Mendez-Laing, Ralls, Bryson, Hoilett; Ward.

Subs: Murphy (gk), Feeney, Halford, Paterson, Tomlin, Damour, Bogle.