Debut for Yorke

Birmingham boss Steve Bruce handed Dwight Yorke a debut following his deadline-day move from Blackburn as he went for broke in attempting to end a 14-match unbeaten run away from home.

Yorke joined fellow strikers Emile Heskey and Mikael Forssell in the starting line-up, with the former Trinidad and Tobago international replacing Stephen Clemence.

With Gaizka Mendieta out after injuring a calf in training this week, Boro boss Steve McClaren handed Szilard Nemeth a first start this season as he also named three forwards, the Slovakian joining Mark Viduka and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink in the side.

Ugo Ehiogu also returned to start after three games out with a back injury, with Chris Riggott dropped to the bench.

Middlesbrough: Schwarzer, Parnaby, Southgate, Ehiogu, Queudrue, Nemeth, Boateng, Parlour, Zenden, Viduka, Hasselbaink. Subs: Riggott, Job, Downing, Doriva, Nash.

Birmingham: Maik Taylor, Melchiot, Cunningham, Upson, Gray, Gronkjaer, Johnson, Izzet, Yorke, Heskey, Forssell. Subs: Tebily, Bennett, Martin Taylor, Morrison, Clemence.

Referee: G Poll (Hertfordshire)