CHUBA AKPOM makes a surprise appearance in the Middlesbrough squad for the opening game of the Championship season against Millwall.

Despite having missed the whole of the pre-season period with a knee injury, Akpom is on the bench for today's game at the Riverside.

The same is true of Jonny Howson and Josh Coburn, who are also named amongst the substitutes despite having been absent for the whole of the pre-season programme.

Michael Carrick has stuck with the same XI that started last weekend's final pre-season friendly against Auxerre.

That means Hayden Coulson retaining his place at left-back, with Paddy McNair set to line up in the right-back slot.

Dael Fry partners Darragh Lenihan at centre-half, with Dan Barlaser playing alongside Hayden Hackney in central midfield.

Matt Crooks is set to play in the 'number ten' role, with Morgan Rogers leading the line following his summer move from Manchester City.

Millwall boss Gary Rowett has named former Middlesbrough forward Duncan Watmore in his starting side, along with summer signing Kevin Nisbet, who will be part of the front three after signing from Hibernian this summer.


MIDDLESBROUGH (4-2-3-1): Dieng; McNair, Fry, Lenihan, Coulson; Hackney, Barlaser; Forss, Crooks, McGree; Rogers.

Subs: Glover (gk), van den Berg, Jones, Gilbert, Howson, Silvera, Coburn, Payero, Akpom.

MILLWALL (3-4-3): Sarkic; Hutchinson, Cooper, Wallace; McNamara, Mitchell, de Norre, Bryan; Watmore, Flemming, Nisbet.

Subs: Bialkowski (gk), Evans, Bradshaw, Leonard, Voglsammer, Emakhu, Saville, Esse, Harding.