Thomas earns Premiership debut for Charlton

Charlton boss Alan Curbishley handed 21-year-old midfielder Jerome Thomas his first start in the Barclays Premiership for today’s match against Middlesbrough at The Valley.

With Dennis Rommedahl injured, the former Arsenal trainee retained his place in the starting XI from the midweek Carling Cup defeat by Crystal Palace.

Fit again Radostin Kishishev returned to the side, along with Talal El Karkouri and striker Jonatan Johansson. Danny Murphy, Kevin Lisbie and Jonathan Fortune were named on the bench.

Middlesbrough welcomed back defender Franck Queudrue after recovering from a groin strain.

Mark Viduka came back into the attack alongside Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink following a much-changed team for the midweek Carling Cup win over Coventry.

Teenager Anthony McMahon started, with fellow youngster James Morrison on the bench, but Ugo Ehiogu (calf), Gaizka Mendieta (knee) and Szilard Nemeth (hip) all missed out.

Charlton: Kiely, Young, Perry, El Karkouri, Hreidarsson, Kishishev, Holland, Euell, Thomas, Bartlett, Johansson.

Subs: Lisbie, Murphy, Andersen, Konchesky, Fortune.

Middlesbrough: Schwarzer, McMahon, Riggott, Southgate, Queudrue, Parlour, Boateng, Zenden, Downing, Hasselbaink, Viduka.

Subs: Nash, Doriva, Cooper, Job, Morrison.

Referee: M Halsey (Lancashire)