AITOR KARANKA is considering asking the Football League if he can select 12 players against Ipswich Town this afternoon – because he doesn’t know who to play up front.

Boro entertain Ipswich in the first of their final three matches knowing that a run of three victories will guarantee a place in the Premier League, but Karanka admits to being torn as he ponders who should lead the line against Mick McCarthy’s side.

Jordan Rhodes is on his best run since moving to Teesside from Blackburn, having scored three goals in his last two games, and the Scotsman’s performance at Burnley on Tuesday night was arguably his best in a Boro shirt.

But David Nugent boasts a remarkable career record of 15 goals from 14 matches against Ipswich, and scored in December’s 2-0 win at Portman Road.

Should it be horses for courses, or stick with the thoroughbred performer? Even now, Karanka concedes he is struggling to decide.

“I will have to ask the Football League if I can play 12,” joked the Boro head coach. “David has to play because he scores so many against Ipswich, and Jordan has to play because he has scored in the last two games. Maybe for one day, we are allowed to play with 12?

“I have to analyse the opponent and make a decision, but it’s going to be tough. We have to take advantage of Jordan’s momentum, but sometimes with David on the pitch we’re really good.

“I have to think - I don’t know yet, but maybe we can play two up front? It could be a game where we could use both of them, both are in good (form) and at the moment I don't know if Gaston (Ramirez) can play. I’m considering to play with both of them.”

As things stand, though, that remains unlikely. Nugent and Rhodes played in the same starting line-up in February’s 1-1 draw at Blackburn, and the experiment didn’t work, so it would be a major surprise if Karanka went down the same route today even if Ramirez was unavailable.

Rhodes is the likeliest starter, with Karanka admitting on Thursday that he is reluctant to do too much tinkering with just three games to go.

The Scotsman has taken time to find his feet since joining Boro on January’s transfer deadline day, and as a striker who likes to play on the shoulder of the last defender, there is still a sense that his team-mates do not always play to his strengths.

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However, his predatory instincts were to the fore again as he swept home Boro’s goal at Turf Moor, and for all that only scored two goals in his first 13 appearances for the Teessiders, Karanka was always confident he would come good.

“You can imagine as a striker how much confidence you get from scoring goals,” he said. “I said even after the friendly game against Sunderland, it was important for him to score as scorers have goals in their head.

“To have Jordan scoring goals at this point in the season is good - especially when you have Jordan scoring goals and a player like David off the bench, who came on against Bolton and changed the game.

“We are in this position because when Jordan wasn't scoring, Gaston was scoring. When Gaston wasn't scoring, Albert (Adomah) was scoring. When Gaston, Jordan or Albert weren't scoring, David was. I am happy because every single player has the quality to score goals, and that's why I’m confident.”

Nugent has scored consistently throughout the campaign, with his most recent goal against Hull making it eight for the season.

His record against Ipswich is incredible, but Karanka claims it is not that unusual for a player to have a markedly better record against a certain set of clubs.

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While playing in Spain, the former Real Madrid defender admits there were some opponents he felt more comfortable playing against, so he can understand why Nugent might gain a psychological advantage from lining up against Ipswich.

“My experience in Spain was that I went to play against some teams - I won't tell you who - but I didn't feel confident in those stadiums,” said Karanka. “I don't know why, but it's true.

“I went to some places and knew I would play well, it's a mental thing. I know David's record against Ipswich and it's another thing to think about.”

Had things turned out differently in the last two transfer windows, Boro might have been fielding Daryl Murphy, who will miss today’s game because of injury, or Ross McCormack up front.

Instead, they recruited Nugent for £4.5m and Rhodes for a fee that could potentially rise to £13m, and Karanka insists he would not swap the pair for anyone else in the Championship.

“No, I wouldn’t (swap them),” he said. “They are my strikers and they wanted to be here. I always say that my players are the best.”