PADDY McNAIR returns to Middlesbrough's starting side for this afternoon's Championship game against Swansea City.

McNair has completed his recovery from the concussion he suffered during the recent defeat to West Brom, and has been given the green light to return to the side.

The centre-half replaces Dael Fry, who is absent from the squad entirely because of an illness.

The switch is Michael Carrick's only change from the team that started last weekend's five-goal thrashing of Reading.

That means Aaron Ramsey continues in the starting line-up, with Marcus Forss once again finding himself on the substitutes' bench.


SWANSEA (3-4-3): Fisher; Cabango, Wood, Latibeaudiere; Sorinola, Grimes, Fulton, Manning; Cundle, Piroe, Cooper.

Subs: Sondegaard, Darling, Ntcham, Paterson, Whittaker, Cullen, Walsh.

MIDDLESBROUGH (4-2-3-1): Steffen; Smith, McNair, Lenihan, Giles; Howson, Hackney; Ramsey, Akpom, McGree; Archer.

Subs: Roberts, Mowatt, Barlaser, Dijksteel, Forss, Bola, Finch.