PATRICK BAMFORD will make his first league start since rejoining Middlesbrough when the Teessiders play their final home game of the season against Southampton this afternoon.
Bamford rejoined Boro in a £6m move from Chelsea in January, having enjoyed a successful season on loan at the Riverside two years ago.
His opportunities have been severely limited in the last four months, but he will start against the Saints as Steve Agnew attempts to restore some pride in the wake of his side's relegation.
Bamford replaces Adama Traore in the only change to the team that lost at Chelsea on Monday as Boro's relegation was confirmed.
He is expected to start on the right-hand side of Boro's attacking three, with Stewart Downing playing on the other side of Alvaro Negredo.
MIDDLESBROUGH (4-3-3): Guzan; Fabio, Chambers, Gibson, Friend; de Roon, Clayton, Forshaw; Bamford, Negredo, Downing.
Subs: Konstantopoulos (gk), Barragan, Bernardo, Leadbitter, Fischer, Traore, Stuani.
SOUTHAMPTON (4-2-3-1): Forster; Pied, Cacares, Yoshida, Bertrand; Clasie, Romeu; Hojbjerg, Boufal, Rodriguez; Long.
Subs: Hassen (gk), Davis, Stephens, Targett, Ward-Prowse, Redmond, Austin.
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