Leadbitter banned for Boro
Middlesbrough boss Tony Mowbray will be without Grant Leadbitter for Huddersfield's trip to the Riverside after the midfielder picked up his fifth yellow card of the season at the weekend.
Nicky Bailey, Richard Smallwood and the fit-again Kevin Thomson are likely candidates to replace him in Mowbray's starting XI.
Former Rangers midfielder Thomson played his first game since the start of October when he came on as a second-half substitute during Saturday's 3-1 defeat to Bristol City.
Mowbray does not expect any of his injured players to recover in time for the clash.
Jonathan Woodgate and Faris Haroun (both calf) missed Saturday's match and are expected to need around a fortnight to recover.
George Friend is out for a similar spell with a minor hamstring tear, while Julio Arca could return to the fold after a toe operation.
Huddersfield boss Simon Grayson could be without the services of midfield duo Keith Southern and Adam Clayton.
Southern was shown a straight red card in Saturday's draw with Charlton for a challenge on Michael Morrison. The club have appealed against the decision but will not learn the verdict until the day of the game.
Fellow summer signing Clayton, who scored a last minute penalty at The Valley, is definitely suspended after picking up his fifth caution of the season.
Grayson has recalled 20-year-old Chris Atkinson from his loan spell at League Two side Chesterfield to boost his midfield options and he goes straight into the 18-man squad.
Sean Scannell also missed the trip with a hamstring problem along with striker Jermaine Beckford who has a similar problem.
Both players face a late fitness test but could return to the bench. James Vaughan and Jimmy Spencer (both thigh) are likely to miss out again.
Source: PA
