Boro big guns back

Middlesbrough boss Steve McClaren turned to his big guns once again as he looked to keep his side’s Champions League bid on track.

McClaren made five changes to the side which defeated Partizan Belgrade 3-0 in midweek as the suspended Franck Queudrue, the injured Ray Parlour and Colin Cooper, Doriva and Joseph-Desire Job made way.

Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink and Mark Viduka returned to lead the line, while Tony McMahon and Chris Riggott were drafted in at the back and George Boateng shook off an ankle problem to resume in midfield.

Villa boss David O’Leary made just one change to the side which lost 2-1 at home to Birmingham last time out with Peter Whittingham replacing Carlton Cole, who was named among the substitutes.

Middlesbrough: Schwarzer, McMahon, Southgate, Riggott, Reiziger, Nemeth, Boateng, Zenden, Downing, Hasselbaink, Viduka. Subs: Nash, Job, Doriva, Cooper, Morrison.

Aston Villa: Sorensen, Samuel, Delaney, Mellberg, De la Cruz, Solano, Davis, McCann, Barry, Whittingham, Angel. Subs: Postma, Berson, Cole, Ridgewell, Luke Moore.

Referee: A D’Urso (Essex)