Aiming to continue their upward trajectory in the Championship, an in-form Middlesbrough side will welcome Birmingham City to the Riverside Stadium on Saturday afternoon for an intriguing-looking clash.
Boro recorded their fourth straight win in style prior to the international break with a comfortable success over Sunderland, whereas Blues are preparing for life under new management despite starting the season strongly.
Match preview
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Following a sensational run to the playoffs last season under the stoic leadership of Michael Carrick, not many Middlesbrough supporters expected their side to endure a seven-game winless spell at the start of this term, but the tide has begun to turn at the Riverside Stadium after four successive victories.
The most notable of that recent quartet of maximums certainly arrived at the Stadium of Light against Sunderland in the Teesside Derby immediately before the international pause, with Sam Greenwood, Matt Crooks, Isaiah Jones and Marcus Forss all getting on the scoresheet to secure Boro's biggest win since the 5-1 thrashing of Norwich City in April.
Sitting in the bottom three of the Championship in the middle of September, there were questions of whether Carrick's men may capitulate without the attacking qualities of the departed Chuba Akpom, Cameron Archer and Aaron Ramsey, although back-to-back clean sheets in their last two matches have shown that Boro are unlocking another way to be successful in this division.
Middlesbrough currently sit 16th in the second-tier standings after collecting a respectable tally of 14 points from their opening 11 matches, with the four-point gap to sixth-placed Birmingham being very manageable at this stage of the 2023-24 campaign.
With the sale of last season's leading marksman Akpom to Eredivisie giants Ajax, Carrick has relied on the differing talents of Emmanuel Latte Lath and Josh Coburn in a central-striking role, with a horses-for-courses approach being taken when deciding which player receives a starting berth.
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Birmingham City will begin a new era at the Riverside Stadium on Saturday afternoon following the appointment of Manchester United legend Wayne Rooney as manager on a three-and-a-half-year contract, with the former England star tasked with implementing a 'no fear' playing style at a club which has feared for its future at times over the past decade.
Considering Blues had just enjoyed back-to-back home successes over Huddersfield Town and West Bromwich Albion prior to the international break, many onlookers questioned the timing of John Eustace's sacking from the Second City club, however there is a consensus that Birmingham's new ownership had been planning a big-name incoming to the managerial hotseat since the summer.
Looking back at images of former boss Eustace celebrating Gary Gardner's second-half goal last time out during the 3-1 victory over West Brom, it is reasonable to assume that the 43-year-old knew his fate prior to kickoff at St Andrew's a fortnight ago, with owner Tom Wagner and company reportedly unimpressed by recent displays at Watford and Norwich.
Rooney has walked into arguably the most-talented Blues dressing room since the club's first season back at this level following relegation from the Premier League in 2011, with the likes of Siriki Dembele and Jay Stansfield showing signs of being standout players in the second tier this season.
A record of 18 points from 11 Championship matches means the former Derby County boss take charges of a Blues team who currently sit sixth in the league standings, and after a drastic rise in expectations since the announcement of Rooney's arrival, it appears that anything less than a spot in the playoffs would be somewhat of a disappointment in May.
Team News
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Middlesbrough are expecting to be without the services of midfielder Riley McGree ahead of Saturday's clash, with the former Birmingham loanee missing Australia's games against England and New Zealand over the international break due to a foot injury.
Boro have seen a host of first-team stars return to the North-East unscathed following their respective involvements with their national sides, meaning the likes of Paddy McNair, Hayden Hackney and Seny Dieng are all available for selection.
Lewis O'Brien remains as a long-term absentee for the hosts as he recovers from an ankle issue, while centre-back Matthew Clarke is being nursed back to fitness following an extended spell in the medical room.
Summer arrival Alex Bangura is no further along his road to full recovery after the left-back picked up a knock during his debut against Blackburn Rovers, although the 24-year-old should be able to take a place on the bench this weekend, allowing Lukas Engel to maintain a spot in the starting XI.
Birmingham supporters should prepare for a few changes in style and personnel following the arrival of Rooney at the club, with the likes of Welsh prodigy Jordan James and new signing Emanuel Aiwu hoping to cement a place in the manager's preferred side after both struggling for game time under Eustace.
With usual penalty-taker Scott Hogan starting on the bench for the game against West Brom, Juninho Bacuna scored Blues' equaliser from 12 yards out in their last match, but it remains to be seen whether the Curacao international retains his spot in the XI ahead of players who have spent the last week under the watchful eye of the new boss in training.
Cody Drameh will continue at right-back as Ethan Laird remains unavailable due to a hamstring injury, although the former Manchester United man is targeting a return to first-team training next week after missing two months of Championship action.
A considerable chunk of Birmingham's summer arrivals are currently out of contention, with Keshi Anderson, Lee Buchanan and Tyler Roberts in the medical room ahead of this weekend's trip to Teesside.
Middlesbrough possible starting lineup:
Dieng; Smith, Fry, McNair, Engel; Barlaser, Hackney, Jones, Crooks, Greenwood; Coburn
Birmingham City possible starting lineup:
Ruddy; Drameh, Sanderson, Long, Longelo; Bielik, Sunjic, Bacuna, Miyoshi, Dembele; Stansfield
We say: Middlesbrough 1-1 Birmingham City
Middlesbrough will be hoping their positive momentum can be carried over from before the international break, and Carrick's men should be confident of recording a sixth straight win in all competitions.
Armed with a new manager and fresh ideas, Birmingham's performance at the Riverside Stadium will be under intense scrutiny, and we believe that Rooney will earn a respectable point from his first match in charge.
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Top tip
Carter White
