GORDON STRACHAN has handed three home debuts to Middlesbrough new-boys against Roy Keane's Ipswich Town this afternoon.

Nicky Bailey, the £1.4m buy from Charlton, and the two signings from Rangers, Kris Boyd and Kevin Thomson, have both been handed starting berths at the Riverside Stadium.

Stephen McManus, who made a permanent switch from Celtic after last seaosn's loan, also starts, while Estonian winger Tarmo Kink is named on the bench.

For Ipswich, Keane has named his recent purchase from Sunderland between the posts. Marton Fulop, who moved last week, has been thrust straight into the team.

He joins two other former Black Cats. Carlos Edwards and Grant Leadbitter all play. Conor Hourihane, who moved from Wearside earlier this summer, is on the bench.

MIDDLESBROUGH (4-4-2): Coyne; Hoyte, Wheater, McManus, Bates; Flood, Robson, Thomson; Bailey; McDonald, Kris Boyd. Subs: Steele (gk), Kink, Lita, Miller, Arca, Williams, Grounds.

IPSWICH TOWN (4-4-2): Fulop; Peters, McAuley, Hyam, Kennedy; Edwards, Norris, Leadbitter, Walters; Priskin, Smith. Subs: Murphy (gk), Stead, Brown, Healy, Lambe, Ainsley, Hourihane.