CRISTHIAN STUANI will start his first game for Middlesbrough in tonight’s Capital One Cup first round tie at Oldham Athletic.
The Uruguayan buy from Espanyol, who emerged as a substitute at Preston on Sunday, is set to lead the line at Boundary Park instead of Kike in a pretty strong team which has been mixed up since the trip to Deepdale.
Middlesbrough, who hope to land Leicester striker David Nugent before the weekend, have made a further seven changes which sees Italian midfielder Diego Fabbrini and Southampton loan man Jack Stephens also slot in.
Oldham only name Daniel Burn on the bench despite receiving permission to play against his parent club after joining the Latics on a half season loan.
OLDHAM ATHLETIC (4-2-3-1): Cornell; B Wilson, J Wilson, Gunning, Mills; Kelly, Philliskirk; Croft, Winchester, Forte; Cassidy. Subs: Coleman (gk), Brown, Poleon, Green, Burn, Dunn, Turner.
MIDDLESBROUGH (4-2-3-1): Mejias; Nsue, Ayala, Stephens, Husband; Clayton, Forshaw; Adomah, Fabbrini, Wildschut; Stuani. Subs: Konstantopoulos (gk), Friend, Leadbitter, Kike, Downing, Fry, Kalas.
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