Charlie Austin is out of the Queens Park Rangers side for their meeting with Middlesbrough due to a calf injury.
Despite it only being a minor problem for the striker, Austin misses out for the visitors and Matt Phillips is given the responsibility of leading the line.
Junior Hoilett is rested after being away with Canada during the international break, while Jay Emmanuel-Thomas is forced to settle for a spot on the bench as Kevin Blackwell takes charge in the absence of caretaker boss Neil Warnock.
Kike and Christian Stuani are among the substitutes for Middlesbrough, with David Nugent starting in attack for the hosts.
Fernando Amorebieta is unavailable due to injury as Emilio Nsue and Ben Gibson start in central defence.
Middlesbrough: Konstantopoulos, Nsue, Ayala, Gibson, Friend, Adomah, Leadbitter, Clayton, Downing, Fabbrini, Nugent
Subs: Kike, de Pena, Mejias, Stephens, Stuani, Zuculini, Woodgate
Queens Park Rangers: Green, Perch, Onuoha, Hall, Konchesky, Henry, Sandro, Faurlin, Yun, Fer, Phillips
Subs: Smithies, Angella, Luongo, Petrasso, Tozser, Blackwood, Emmanuel-Thomas
Callum Mulvihill
