Middlesbrough vs Burton Albion - Pulis could shuffle pack again as Middlesbrough host Burton

Posted Monday, December 17, 2018 by PA

Middlesbrough boss Tony Pulis is likely to make changes for Tuesday night’s Carabao Cup quarter-final clash with Burton as he attempts to fight on two fronts.

Pulis has shuffled his pack in earlier rounds, and could do so once again for the visit of the Brewers to the Riverside Stadium with Dael Fry, Lewis Wing, Ashley Fletcher and Martin Braithwaite among those who could benefit.

Midfielder Muhamed Besic is available after missing Saturday’s 2-1 Sky Bet Championship defeat at QPR through suspension and is in contention for a return.

The manager otherwise has no fresh selection problems with striker Rudy Gestede his only absentee because of a hamstring problem.

Burton manager Nigel Clough is keeping his fingers crossed as he prepares his League One team for a chance to reach the semi-finals of the competition for the first time.

Striker Liam Boyce and midfielder Scott Fraser both limped out of Saturday’s 1-0 defeat at Fleetwood with thigh and groin injuries respectively, but Clough is hoping both could yet make the trip to Teesside.

However, defenders Kyle McFadzean (hip) and Damien McCrory (hamstring) remain doubts, and there are worries too that midfielder David Templeton could face a further spell on the sidelines.

Templeton suffered a recurrence of a shoulder problem which kept him out earlier this season at Fleetwood and is awaiting an assessment of the damage.