Norwich City have both Leon Barnett and Simon Lappin back from suspension for the trip north.
They could come in for Zak Whitbread and Adam Drury, who played well against QPR but were both making their first starts after long injury lay-offs.
MATCH PREVIEW
Having enjoyed a memorable 2010, Norwich kicked off 2011 in the best possible way - by beating leaders QPR to underline that the Canaries are serious challengers for a second successive promotion.
That 1-0 victory took Norwich up to third in the table - five points behind Rangers - and was their third win in a row. They have lost one of their last 10 matches, and won five of their last six.
They face a Middlesbrough side that are two places above the relegation zone and have been enduring a miserable season. But the Teessiders also have reason to feel upbeat going into the second half of the campaign.
There are at last signs that Boro are turning the corner. They won a crucial game against fellow strugglers Preston, and it took a stoppage-time equaliser to deny them a victory at high-flying Leeds on Saturday.
MATCH FACTS
Head-to-head
• Norwich have won only one of their last 10 away matches against Middlesbrough.
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• The Canaries' last point on Teesside came in the Premier League, when they drew 3-3 in May 1993.
Middlesbrough
• Boro are yet to draw two matches in a row this season.
• They have won four, drawn two, and lost five games since Tony Mowbray took over as manager.
Norwich
• Norwich are unbeaten in four away matches.
• The Canaries have not opened a calendar year with back-to-back wins in the second tier since 1997, when they began with three consecutive victories.
• Andrew Crofts could make his 250th league appearance.
Source: BBC Sport
Source: BBC Sport