BEN LIDDLE will make his senior Middlesbrough debut in this evening's FA Cup third-round replay at Tottenham.

The Chester-le-Street-born midfielder, who is the son of Boro academy boss Craig Liddle, is handed a first senior start as part of five changes to the Boro side that started last weekend's Championship draw with Derby County.

The 21-year-old scored two goals for the Under-23s last week, and has been rewarded with a starting spot at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium as Boro look to set up a fourth-round tie at Southampton.

As expected Tomas Mejias replaces Aynsley Pears, just as he did for the original tie at the Riverside, which finished in a 1-1 draw.

Marvin Johnson gets the nod ahead of Hayden Coulson at left wing-back, while Adam Clayton returns to the heart of midfield, having sat out Saturday's draw.

The final change comes in attack, with Lukas Nmecha making his first Boro start in place of fellow loanee Patrick Roberts.


Tottenham (4-2-3-1): Gazzaniga; Tanganga, Sanchez, Vertonghen, Sessegnon; Dier, Winks; Eriksen, Lamela, Lo Celso; Lucas.

Subs: Vorm (gk), Aurier, Foyth, Skipp, Cirkin, Alli, Son.

Middlesbrough (5-3-2): Mejias; Spence, Howson, McNair, Fry, Johnson; Liddle, Clayton, Wing; Nmecha, Fletcher.

Subs: Brynn (gk), Wood, Malley, Saville, Tavernier, Roberts, Gestede.