Middlesbrough head coach Aitor Karanka has selected an unchanged team for the visit of Birmingham City to the Riverside Stadium.

The North-East outfit won their third successive Championship fixture last week as they got the better of Ipswich Town, and it comes as no surprise that Karanka retains faith with the same players.

Birmingham boss Gary Rowett has given James Vaughan his first start since he moved to St Andrew's on loan from Huddersfield Town.

Nicolai Brock-Madsen drops to the bench as a result of Vaughan's inclusion, while Jon Toral failed a late fitness test, meaning that Jacques Maghoma has been included.

Andrew Shinnie has also been given a starting role instead of David Davis, who is only named as a substitute.

Middlesbrough: Konstantopoulos, Nsue, Ayala, Gibson, Friend, Adomah, Leadbitter, Clayton, Downing, Stuani, Nugent
Subs: Mejias, Amorebieta, Kike, Kalas, Fabbrini, Forshaw, Zuculini

Birmingham City: Kuszczak, Eardley, Morrison, Spector, Grounds, Gleeson, Kieftenbeld, Maghoma, Shinnie, Gray, Vaughan
Subs: Legzdins, Solomon-Otabor, Lowry, Davis, Caddis, Brock-Madsen, Halford