Head coach Jonathan Woodgate certainly has plenty of options, but will be without key players Daniel Ayala and Patrick Roberts for at least another month due to injury. Excluding the club’s long-term absentees, our Boro writer Joe Nicholson has picked his strongest side, including substitutions. Scroll down and flick through the pages to see if you agree:
![Has stepped up this season following the departure of Darren Randolph to West Ham.](https://jp-ct.co.uk/image/onecms:48f5da66-27fc-43ea-a228-d27a22b2124a:b7809837-68a6-413a-909b-7ab976c249eb/GettyImages-1195114553%20(7).jpg?crop=3:2&width=640)
1. GK: Aynsley Pears
Has stepped up this season following the departure of Darren Randolph to West Ham. Photo: George Wood
![Signed a new deal earlier this week and looks well suited to the right wing-back role, providing pace and energy on the flank.](https://jp-ct.co.uk/image/onecms:050b7af3-5ef2-4126-8cbc-76c9f982aa22:6c5d91ea-6263-4baf-80d7-7081dd686cd6/GettyImages-1199526888%20(4).jpg?crop=3:2&width=640)
2. RWB: Djed Spence
Signed a new deal earlier this week and looks well suited to the right wing-back role, providing pace and energy on the flank. Photo: Justin Setterfield
![Could also do a job in central midfield, yet Howson's performances in a back three have been excellent this season.](https://jp-ct.co.uk/image/onecms:b116038d-d29e-41e9-9dfb-4305ff166c1f:00958e61-b8f5-49f0-9a2c-35f35fcd8bd9/GettyImages-1198086567%20(5).jpg?crop=3:2&width=640)
3. CB: Jonny Howson
Could also do a job in central midfield, yet Howson's performances in a back three have been excellent this season. Photo: Alex Livesey
![Daniel Ayala's ankle injury has left a void in Boro's backline. At 6'3, Moukoudi looks like he'll be a natural fit to play in the heart of defence.](https://jp-ct.co.uk/image/onecms:60c4febc-1d88-4e7e-8d1b-f6ece37a1465:3f7a2354-989a-488a-bd71-f73ebf8d9d48/GettyImages-1157408032%20(2).jpg?crop=3:2&width=640)
4. CB: Harold Moukoudi
Daniel Ayala's ankle injury has left a void in Boro's backline. At 6'3, Moukoudi looks like he'll be a natural fit to play in the heart of defence. Photo: ALEX EDELMAN