VICTOR VALDES misses out because of injury as Middlesbrough host the reigning Premier League champions Leicester City this afternoon.

Valdes picked up a knock in a collision with Zlatan Ibrahimovich at the weekend, and while the goalkeeper was able to complete the match at Old Trafford, he has been ruled out of today's lunch-time kick-off.

He is replaced in the starting line-up by Brad Guzan, with Dimi Konstantopoulos returning to take up a place on the bench.

In total, Aitor Karanka has made five changes to the side that started against Manchester United, with Antonio Barragan returning from suspension to replace Bernardo Espinosa in the back four.

Fabio Da Silva comes back in for George Friend at left-back, with Adam Clayton replacing Grant Leadbitter at the heart of midfield despite the Boro skipper having scored his side's only goal on Saturday.

The final alteration sees Gaston Ramirez preferred to Stewart Downing on the left-hand side.

Leicester are without the suspended Jamie Vardy, with Islam Slimani also unavailable because of illness. As a result, Shinji Okazaki will partner Leonardo Ulloa in the Foxes attack.

MIDDLESBROUGH (4-5-1): Guzan; Barragan, Chambers, Gibson, Fabio; Traore, de Roon, Clayton, Forshaw, Ramirez; Negredo.

Subs: Konstantopoulos (gk), Friend, Bernardo, Leadbitter, Downing, Stuani, Rhodes.

LEICESTER (4-4-2): Schmeichel; Simpson, Morgan, Huth, Fuchs; King, Mendy, Amartey, Mahrez; Okazaki, Ulloa.

Subs: Zieler (gk), Hernandez, Chilwell, Albrighton, Gray, Wasilewski, Musa.