MICHAEL CARRICK has made three changes to his starting side for Middlesbrough's home game with Norwich City - and opted for a change of formation too.

With Paddy McNair and Lukas Engel both returning to the starting line-up, Carrick is set to play with a five-man defence at the Riverside.

McNair will play at centre-half alongside Rav van den Berg and Matt Clarke, with Engel starting at left wing-back and Luke Ayling on the opposite flank.

Jonny Howson also returns to Boro's starting XI after recovering from injury, with the skipper set to partner Lewis O'Brien at the heart of midfield.

Emmanuel Latte Lath will continue to lead the line in attack, with Riley McGree and Marcus Forss playing on either side of him.

Luke Thomas, Dan Barlaser and Sam Greenwood all drop out of the starting line-up as Boro look to get back on track after their weekend defeat to Stoke City.

Isaiah Jones is back in the squad after recovering from a hamstring injury, but the winger is named on the substitutes' bench as he eases his way back to full fitness.


MIDDLESBROUGH (3-4-3): Dieng; van den Berg, McNair, Clarke; Ayling, Howson, O'Brien, Engel; Forss, Latte Lath, McGree.

Subs: Glover, Barlaser, Jones, Gilbert, Dijksteel, Silvera, Azaz, Greenwood, Thomas.


NORWICH (4-2-3-1): Gunn; Stacey, Hanley, Gibson, Giannoulis; Sara, McLean; Fassnacht, Barnes, Sainz; Sargent.

Subs: Long, Gibbs, van Hooijdonk, McCallum, Sorensen, Batth, Nunez, Fisher, Welch.