New signings Calum Chambers and Adama Traore could be handed Middlesbrough debuts when Crystal Palace visit the Riverside Stadium on Saturday.
Arsenal defender Chambers has joined the club on a season-long loan deal, while Traore completed a permanent move from Aston Villa on deadline day and both are in contention for the weekend.
Head coach Aitor Karanka will welcome back goalkeeper Victor Valdes (hamstring), defenders George Friend (calf) and Fabio da Silva (knee) and midfielder Marten de Roon (also hamstring), leaving only long-term absentees James Husband (dislocated shoulder) and Grant Leadbitter (hernia surgery) still missing. Karanka will make late checks on Uruguay internationals Gaston Ramirez and Cristhian Stuani following their return from international duty.
Provisional squad: Valdes, Guzan, Chambers, Friend, Da Silva, Barragan, Nsue, Ayala, Gibson, Espinosa, De Roon, Clayton, Ramirez, Forshaw, Downing, Fischer, De Sart, Traore, Negredo, Rhodes, Stuani, Nugent.
Source: PA-WIRE
