MIDDLESBROOUGH have fielded a strong team for this evening’s friendly game against Morecambe but are without Paddy McNair for the game.

McNair was on the substitutes bench for their last friendly game against Braga but is absent from the matchday squad with suggestions he has suffered a knock. He was not spotted alongside the players during their pre-match inspection of the pitch.

Boro have gone with their usual 3-5-2 system but with Riley McGree sitting off Duncan Watmore as a central striker.

Anfernee Djiksteel will play as part of the back three alongside Darragh Lenihan and Dael Fry.

Liam Roberts keeps his place in goal but Zack Steffen, whose loan move from Manchester City was confirmed today, is not in the squad as expected. However, he has travelled with the squad for tonight’s game.

BORO XI vs Morecambe: Roberts; Fry, Lenihan, Djiksteel; Jones, Giles, Howson, Taverner, Crooks; McGree; Watmore

Subs: Daniels, Smit, Robinson, Bilongo, Dodds, Hannah, Hackney, Boyd-Munce, Coulson, Gibson, Finch, Kavanagh, Coburn