Seventh-placed Middlesbrough are visiting fellow promotion hopefuls Bristol City in a 5.30pm kick-off on Saturday.
Defender Daniel Ayala is suspended following his recent sending-off against Derby County, although midfielder Jonny Howson returns from a one-match ban.
Striker Rudy Gestede could also be back for the visitors having been out of action with a thigh injury since August.
“There was a lot of frustration and disappointment after that game [against Derby], we’ve had strong discussions in reflection of what happened,” Boro manager Garry Monk told BBC Tees. “We’ve made far too many avoidable mistakes in the games that we’ve played so far.
“We haven’t been ruthless enough or clinical enough with the chances we’ve created,” he admitted. “Teams aren’t totally outplaying or cutting through us, which shows the structure’s right.”
Winger Callum O’Dowda is the latest player ruled out for the hosts following surgery on his injured ankle, with Famara Diedhiou [knee], Eros Pisano [hamstring], Jens Hegeler [knee] and ex-Boro midfielder Gary O’Neil [knee] similarly unavailable.
However, left-back Joe Bryan has recovered from a bruised hip.
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