The Boro boss will make one enforced change by leaving out the cup-tied Fabio Rochemback. The Brazilian played in the second leg of Sporting Lisbon’s Champions League defeat by Udinese.
James Morrison is available again after illness ruled him out against Arsenal and Mark Viduka will hope to be promoted to the starting eleven after warming the bench on Saturday.
Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, Szilard Nemeth, Malcolm Christie, Gaizka Mendieta, Stewart Downing, Chris Riggott, Stuart Parnaby and Tony McMahon are all out through injury.
McClaren is conscious of Boro’s record following UEFA Cup games last season, when we won only one of ten games, so he could rest a couple of players ahead of Sunday’s trip to Wigan.
I would expect a more conventional 4-4-2 or 4-3-3 formation against Xanthi, and not the 4-5-1 formation that earned us a victory over Arsenal.
I'm a great believer of not changing a winning team, but with the enforced change I would revert to a 4-4-2 formation.
My team:
Schwarzer, Xavier, Queudrue, Southgate, Ehiogu, Morrison, Parlour, Boateng, Johnson, Yakubu, Maccarone
Subs: Jones, Bates, Cooper, Pogatetz, Doriva, Viduka, Graham