Middlesbrough travel to Stoke City this weekend with only goal-difference separating them from a relegation place.
The Teessiders should be boosted by the return of defensive pair George Friend and Antonio Barragan following injury. But on loan Arsenal man Calum Chambers [foot] is still unavailable.
“When you can’t do anymore to work harder and try to improve, you can’t do more,” Boro head coach Aitor Karanka told BBC Sport. “I think we’re doing a lot of things, we took a step forward in the games against West Brom and Everton and played well, but last week we had to change everything in the last minute.
“We have to keep working and I said after the game the only way to survive is to work harder every day.”
Xherdan Shaqiri is back in training for the hosts having been sidelined by a calf problem for six weeks – but the Swiss international appears unlikely to feature.
However, Jon Walters and Glen Johnson both return while newcomer Saido Berahino is awaiting his first start.
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