AITOR KARANKA has made five changes to his Middlesbrough side for today's FA Cup third-round tie with Sheffield Wednesday - but the Spaniard has still named a strong starting line-up.

Three of the changes come in the back four, with Daniel Ayala, Bernardo Espinosa and George Friend all coming into the side that kicked off Monday's goalless draw with Leicester.

Antonio Barragan is unavailable through injury, with Ben Gibson and Fabio da Silva dropping down to the bench.

Grant Leadbitter replaces Adam Forshaw at the heart of midfield, with the other change seeing Cristhian Stuani return on the right-hand side in place of Gaston Ramirez.

With Alvaro Negredo continuing in attack, Rudy Gestede finds himself on the substitutes' bench five days after completing a £6m move from Aston Villa.

Sheffield Wednesday boss Carlos Carvalhal has also named a strong side which features former Middlesbrough winger Adam Reach.

MIDDLESBROUGH (4-5-1): Guzan; Chambers, Ayala, Bernardo, Friend; Stuani, de Roon, Clayton, Leadbitter, Traore; Negredo.

Subs: Konstantopoulos (gk), Fabio, Gibson, Forshaw, Downing, Rhodes, Gestede.

SHEFF WED (4-4-1-1): Wildsmith; Palmer, Lees, Loovens, Pudil; Wallace, Jones, Bannan, Reach; Forestieri; Fletcher.

Subs: Dawson (gk), McManaman, Joao, Semedo, Hunt, Sasso, Nuhui.