RUDY GESTEDE will make his first league start of the season when Middlesbrough take on Preston at Deepdale this afternoon.

The striker is promoted to the starting line-up as part of two changes to the side that started Sunday's 2-0 win at West Brom, with Marvin Johnson also handed a starting spot.

Hayden Coulson drops down to the substitutes' bench, with Johnson expected to start at left wing-back as Jonathan Woodgate reverts to a five-man defence.

Lewis Wing also drops out of the side that started at the Hawthorns, with Gestede expected to partner Ashley Fletcher in an orthodox front two.

Paddy McNair returns to the squad after serving a three-match suspension, but is only named on the substitutes' bench.

Preston (4-3-3): Rudd; Fisher, Bauer, Davies, Hughes; Pearson, Browne, Barkhuizen; Gallagher, Nugent, Maguire.

Subs: Ripley (gk), Harrop, Ledson, Stockley, Huntington, Bodin, Potts.

Middlesbrough (5-3-2): Pears; Spence, Howson, Ayala, Fry, Johnson; Saville, Clayton, Tavernier; Fletcher, Gestede.

Subs: Mejias (gk), Wood, Coulson, Wing, McNair, O'Neill, Walker.