JOSH COBURN returns to Middlesbrough's starting line-up for this afternoon's Championship home game against Coventry City.

Coburn scored as a second-half substitute in Friday's 2-1 win at Huddersfield, and is back in the starting side for Boro's first game of 2024.

It is the youngster's first start since mid-November, with Michael Carrick having been limiting his workload because of an ongoing groin issue.

Carrick has made three changes for today's game, with Matt Clarke and Lukas Engel also returning to the starting line-up.

Anfernee Dijksteel and Alex Bangura drop out of the team, along with Sammy Silvera, who is away on international duty with Australia alongside his Boro team-mate Riley McGree.


MIDDLESBROUGH (4-2-3-1):  Glover; van den Berg, Fry, Clarke, Engel; Howson, Barlaser; I Jones, Rogers, Greenwood; Coburn.

Subs: J Jones, Gilbert, Coulson, Bangura, Nkrumah, Kavanagh, McCabe, Bridge, Bilongo.

COVENTRY (4-4-1-1): Collins; van Ewijk, Thomas, Binks, Bidwell; O'Hare, Eccles, Sheaf, Sakamoto; Wright; Simms.

Subs: Wilson, McFadzean, Dasilva, Latibeaudiere, Palmer, Allen, Ayari, Godden, Tavares.