Rookie goalkeeper in for Boro

Misfiring Middlesbrough have been forced to hand rookie goalkeeper Ross Turnbull his third Premier League start in this afternoon’s crucial clash at Reading.

The 22-year-old, whose only previous top-flight appearances came in two meaningless matches 18 months ago, is thrown into the deep end of a relegation battle, with both number one Mark Schwarzer and deputy Brad Jones out injured.

Boro boss Gareth Southgate makes two further changes, bringing in Fabio Rochemback and Dong-Gook Lee.

Reading field the same starting XI from last weekend’s last-gasp defeat at Manchester City.

Reading: Hahnemann, Murty, Sonko, Ingimarsson, Shorey, Hunt, Harper, Gunnarsson, Convey, Doyle, Kitson.

Subs: Federici, Cisse, Rosenior, Bikey, Long.

Middlesbrough: Turnbull, Young, Woodgate, Wheater, Pogatetz, Johnson, Boateng, Rochemback, Downing, Aliadiere, Lee.

Subs: Steele, Huth, Sanli, Cattermole, Hutchinson.

Referee: Alan Wiley (Staffordshire).