Goalscoring hero Chuba Akpom has been rested for tonight’s Championship tie against Stoke City as a precaution as Boro make three changes for the trip to Stoke City.

Akpom was feeling the effects of Sunday’s 2-2 draw against Sheffield United after grabbing both of the goals as he revealed after the game he had twisted his knee in the first half. Duncan Watmore takes his place up front.

Alex Mowatt has been handed his first start in Boro shirt after making his debut off the bench at the Riverside Stadium whilst Marc Bola is restored to the starting line-up. Both Marcus Forss and Dael Fry drop to the bench as Riley McGree is pushed further up the field as a number ten.

Matt Crooks is fit enough to return to the bench having been ruled out of the draw with the Blades with illness.

Boro XI: Steffen, Dijksteel, Lenihan, Bola; Jones, Howson, McNair, Mowatt, Giles; McGree, Watmore

Subs: Roberts, Fry, Hoppe, Smith, Forss, Crooks, Finch

Stoke XI: Bursik, Jagielka, Clucas, Baker, Brown, Gayle, Thompson, Wilmot, Smallbone, Fosu, Taylor

Subs: Bonham, Fox, Flint, Campbell, Kilkenny, Wright-Phillips, Sparrow