Middlesbrough take on Watford in a Championship clash on Saturday afternoon at Vicarage Road.
Michael Carrick’s men have turned their 2024/25 season round in the space of just one week.
A draw with a struggling Preston North End was followed by a defeat to local rivals Sunderland, leaving Middlesbrough 12th in the Championship table.
However, two wins from two have now seen the Teessiders move into the play-off places for the first time this season.
Middlesbrough beat West Bromwich Albion 1-0 on Tuesday evening with Hayden Hackney scoring the only goal of the game in the 73rd minute.
The Reds have since dropped down to seventh after more midweek Championship fixtures played out but they can climb back into the top six if they beat Watford this weekend.
The Hornets are eighth in the division going into the game having scored 12 and shipped a worrying 13 in their first eight outings of 2024/25.
Middlesbrough team news for Watford
The injury burden at the Riverside Stadium has been eased somewhat ahead of Watford.
Alex Bangura is a long-term absentee and the game will come too soon for Jonny Howson, who has been out since the 3-0 win over Leeds United in August.
Marcus Forss is still not fit to start games for Middlesbrough after finally returning from his lengthy lay-off but did make the bench against West Brom.
Elsewhere, Carrick provided a Middlesbrough injury update on Thursday afternoon, suggesting Matt Clarke and Tommy Conway could play some part this weekend.
He said: “It’s ok we never want to have any injuries but unfortunately, we’ve had a number, but everyone’s hopefully in a positive light on the way back in different times.
“We had Clarkey back training with us today and Tommy is touch and go so that’s two more.”
Middlesbrough predicted XI vs Watford
George Edmundson has been a superb signing for Middlesbrough, providing quality cover amid the ongoing injury crisis at centre-back.
However, with Clarke likely returning this week, it will probably be the Ipswich Town loanee who will be forced to drop out of the eleven to make way despite his solid form this season.
Rav van den Berg and Clarke formed a great partnership at the back end of 2023/24 and Carrick will probably want to rekindle that as soon as possible at the expense of Edmundson.
Now Plymouth Argyle manager Wayne Rooney is a big fan of Edmundson and it is easy to see why after his start to life at Boro.
The rest of the eleven is likely to be unchanged. Aidan Morris and Hayden Hackney have started to click at the base of Middlesbrough’s midfield while Finn Azaz has been in top form since returning to his favoured number 10 role.
Here’s how we think Middlesbrough will line up against Watford on Saturday…
Dieng (GK)
Ayling
Van den Berg
Clarke
Borges
Hackney
Morris
Doak
Azaz
McGree
Latte Lath