Michael Chopra has been left out of the Blackpool team to face Middlesbrough in the Championship, having been fined by the club earlier this week.

Thomas Ince, whose future with the Tangerines has been the subject of speculation in recent weeks, continues in attack.

Boro boss Aitor Karanka decides against recalling Jonathan Woodgate after the former Leeds player failed to shake off a thigh strain.

Keeper Shay Given comes back for the Teesiders after being ineligible to play against Hull last weekend in the FA Cup.

Middlesbrough have not won at Blackpool in the league since March 1987, when both sides were in the third tier of English football.

Blackpool: Gilks, Bishop, Cathcart, MacKenzie, Robinson, Ferguson, Basham, Angel, Barkhuizen, Ince, Fuller

Middlesbrough: Given, Varga, Friend, Leadbitter, Williams, Ayala, Ledesma, Whitehead, Jutkiewicz, Emnes, Adomah