MIDDLESBROUGH return to action in the second round of the Carabao Cup this evening, with Tony Pulis once again set to use the competition as an opportunity to blood his young talent.

Boro host League One side Rochdale at the Riverside, and having repeatedly bemoaned the lack of depth within his squad, Pulis will rest a number of his established first-team players ahead of Friday night’s top-of-the-table league game with Championship leaders Leeds United.

The Boro boss adopted an identical approach in the first round of the competition, fielding seven debutants as his side saw off Notts County via a penalty shoot-out, and tonight’s line-up will be similar to the team that played against the Magpies.

Andy Lonergan is expected to replace Darren Randolph in goal, with Enes Mahmutovic and Nathan McGinley once again coming into the back four.

Grant Leadbitter, Paddy McNair, Lewis Wing and Marcus Tavernier are expected to be involved in midfield, and it will be interesting to see what Pulis does in attack.

Ashley Fletcher scored twice as Boro made it through the first round, but Pulis could opt to name Jordan Hugill in tonight’s starting XI, with the summer signing from West Ham United having got nine minutes his belt as a substitute in Friday’s 1-0 win over West Brom.

The League Cup does not figure highly on Boro’s priority list as they look to secure a return to the Premier League, but for the likes of Tavernier and Wing, it provides an important opportunity to further their first-team claims.

Pulis remains determined to make two or three signings ahead of Friday’s deadline for Football League loans and overseas transfers, but if new faces fail to arrive, the club’s younger contingent will assume increased importance over the remainder of the campaign.

“I’ve really enjoyed the season so far, coming back from England duty and being involved in the first-team squad,” said Tavernier, who was one of Boro’s successful penalty takers during the first-round win over Notts County.

“We’ve been doing really well at the moment, pushing each other along the way, and hopefully we can keep that going.

“It’s good to see what the young lads are doing because I remember making my debut last season – I know exactly how they are feeling. It gives all the lads a chance to prove they have a future at this club.”

Boro are unbeaten in their six matches in all competitions this season, and while tonight’s result will not have a direct impact on how the Teessiders perform when they travel to Elland Road on Friday, maintaining momentum is a key ambition.

Rochdale are sitting in 19th position in the League One table, but having been severely tested by a Notts County side who are rock bottom of League Two, Boro’s youngsters know they cannot afford to take anything for granted this evening.

Another stern examination awaits, and that might mean going all the way to penalties for a second game in succession.

“A win’s a win at the end of the day, and if it goes to penalties, then we need to make sure we go and do the job,” said Tavernier. “We need to keep winning, and keep results and momentum going.”

As well as preparing for tonight’s game, Pulis has also spent the weekend trying to make some headway in the loan market.

Boro were linked with Benfica winger Rafael Silva and Wigan midfielder Nick Powell over the weekend, but they are not understood to have an interest in either player.

They do, however, remain hopeful that new faces will arrive before Friday tea-time, having honed in on new targets in the wake of Yannick Bolasie’s decision to turn down a move to the Riverside in order to join Aston Villa.

Their own transfer moves will influence a decision over the future of Martin Braithwaite, with the Denmark international having previously expressed a desire to return to France.

At the start of the summer, Boro officials expected the winger to leave this summer, but his importance has been magnified in the first month of the season.

Braithwaite has scored three goals in Boro’s opening five league matches, and has emerged as an integral part of Pulis’ preferred starting line-up following Adama Traore’s departure to Wolves.

Pulis also had to decide what to do with Marvin Johnson, with Sheffield United having expressed a strong interest in the former Oxford United winger.

Johnson finds himself down the pecking order on Teesside, but will only be allowed to leave this week if Boro make signings of their own.

Middlesbrough (probable, 4-3-3): Lonergan; Mahmutovic, Wood, Fry, McGinley; Wing, Leadbitter, McNair; Tavernier, Hugill, Johnson.