Middlesbrough vs Burnley - Aitor Karanka likely to make changes for visit of Burnley

Posted Friday, January 08, 2016 by PA

Middlesbrough head coach Aitor Karanka is likely to shuffle his pack for Saturday's FA Cup third-round clash with Burnley.

The Sky Bet Championship leaders head into the game in confident mood, but with testing away trips to Brentford and Bristol City also awaiting them inside eight days.

Karanka has no fresh injury problems but has made a habit of changing his team for cup games and that could mean rare starts for the likes of goalkeeper Tomas Mejias and midfielder Adam Forshaw.

Jonathan Woodgate will be missing with a back problem, while fellow defenders Alex Baptiste and Damia Abella continue their recoveries from a fractured leg and knee ligament damage respectively.

Dean Marney is unlikely to feature for Burnley.

The midfielder has missed the Clarets' last two fixtures with a calf strain and manager Sean Dyche concedes it is unlikely he returns to the fold yet.

Burnley, who could make several changes to utilise their squad, could also be without Michael Duff (thigh), although the centre-back will be checked on Friday to determine if he can return.

Attacking pair Ashley Barnes and Lukas Jutkiewicz (both knee) remain sidelined.