TONY MOWBRAY has opted against naming Scott McDonald in his 18-man match day squad to face Derby County tonight.
Despite clear-the-air talks between the pair earlier this week and McDonald's return to the first team fold, the Australian has not made the bench at the Riverside Stadium.
Mowbray has given a chance to Luke Williams alongside Lukas Jutkiewicz in attack, with Merouane Zemmama the player to make way on the back of Saturday's defeat to Leicester City.
The only change sees, as expected, Seb Hines slot in at the heart of the defence instead of Jonathan Woodgate, who misses out with a hamstring problem.
MIDDLESBROUGH (4-4-2): Steele; Hoyte, Hines, Bikey, Friend; Bailey; Leadbitter, Thomson; McEachran; Williams, Jutkiewicz. Subs: Zemmama, McManus, Ledesma, Leutwiler (gk), Parnaby, Smallwood, Haroun.
DERBY COUNTY (4-4-2): Fielding; Brayford, Buxton, Keogh, Roberts; Coutts, Hendrick, Bryson, Hughes; Robinson, Tyson. Subs: Sammon, Legzdins, O'Connor, Jacobs, Gjokaj, Bennett, Freeman.
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