TONY PULIS has surprisingly opted to make radical changes to his Middlesbrough side for this evening's Championship game at Preston.

Pulis has changed four of the players that started Saturday's 2-1 win at Brentford, and looks set to switch formation to a five-man defence.

Daniel Ayala returns to the starting side, and is set to play as one of three centre-halves along with Danny Batth and Aden Flint.

Boro's midfield has had a radical overhaul, with George Saville and Lewis Wing both coming in to the starting side.

Rudy Gestede is recalled to partner Jordan Hugill in attack, with Marcus Tavernier dropping down to the bench and Stewart Downing and Mo Besic dropping out of the squad entirely.


PRESTON (4-2-3-1): Rudd; Clarke, Storey, Huntington, Earl; Pearson, Gallagher; Barkhuizen, Browne, Barker; Moult.

Subs: Maxwell (gk), Fisher, Woods, Hughes, Ledson, Burke, Nmecha.

MIDDLESBROUGH (5-3-2): Randolph; Fry, Batth, Flint, Ayala, Friend; Saville, Clayton, Wing; Gestede, Hugill.

Subs: Lonergan (gk), McNair, Howson, Tavernier, Braithwaite, Fletcher, Assombalonga.