Sixth-placed Middlesbrough are looking to keep up with the leading clubs when visiting Aston Villa this evening (kick-off 7.45pm).
The Teessiders are without former Villa striker Rudy Gestede [thigh] while Martin Braithwaite [hamstring] is again unlikely to be involved.
But latest debutant Marvin Johnson could push for a start after coming off the bench to score against Bolton Wanderers at the weekend, while fellow newcomer Ryan Shotton remained an unused substitute.
Villa were hoping that last season’s top scorer Jonathan Kodjia [broken ankle] would be available for the first time this term, although Josh Onomah [muscle], Keinan Davis [hip] and Andre Green [hamstring] each suffered knocks against Brentford.
Otherwise, Jack Grealish [kidney] and Rushian Hepburn-Murphy [thigh] are sidelined.
Share this article
