Middlesbrough should approach their midweek home clash against Nottingham Forest with fresh confidence after finally getting back on the victory trail at the weekend.
Boro are still without defender Jonathan Woodgate (calf) and on loan goalkeeper Tomas Meija (dislocated finger) while Mustapha Carayol (hip) should recover in time.
Already unavailable were longer-term casualties Seb Hines (thigh), Rhys Williams (Achilles) and Daniel Ayala (ankle).
However, the Teessiders at last broke their seven-game scoring drought courtesy of a Danny Graham double in their weekend victory over Ipswich Town.
“Finally the goals arrived and I’m very happy,” head coach Aitor Karanka told Boro’s official website. “I said that if we played how we did in the last home game the goals would come and I’m very happy.
“I know the players, I work with them every day and I told you two weeks ago that I trusted myself 100 per cent of course but I trust my staff 120 per cent and my players 200 per cent,” he continued. “It was only a question of time before the goals came. If we play as a team we can beat anyone.”
Forest have a significant number of injury problems with Kelvin Wilson (back), Jack Hobbs (ankle), Eric Lichaj (hernia) and Andy Reid (hernia) still ruled out.
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