DANIEL AYALA has been passed fit to start in an unchanged Middlesbrough line-up at Brentford.

Ayala has been struggling with a groin problem for most of the week, and had been a major doubt ahead of this afternoon's game at Griffin Park.

However, the Spaniard has recovered sufficiently to line up alongside Ben Gibson as Boro look to cement a place in the play-off positions.

With Ayala available, Tony Pulis has named an unchanged line-up on the back of last weekend's 3-1 win over Barnsley.

That means skipper Grant Leadbitter is only on the substitutes' bench despite returning to first-team duty after serving a two-match suspension.

BRENTFORD (4-1-4-1): Bentley; Dalsgaard, Egan, Mepham, Clarke; Woods; Jozefzoon, Macleod, Mokotjo, Watkins; Maupay.

Subs: Daniels (gk), Yennaris, Marcondes, Judge, Sawyers, Barbet, Canos.

MIDDLESBROUGH (4-3-3): Randolph; Shotton, Ayala, Gibson, Friend; Besic, Clayton, Howson; Traore, Bamford, Downing.

Subs: Konstantopoulos (gk), Cranie, Fry, Leadbitter, Baker, Harrison, Assombalonga.