Everyone's saying that Reyes will make his full debut tonight. Bentley's bound to play, either alongside Reyes or perhaps on the wing with Owuse-Abeyie or Smith up front.

Freddie is out with a rib injury but wouldn't have been playing tonight anyway.

Vieira is expected to be in midfield (since he missed Sunday's game through suspension) perhaps with Edu. Now that Toure seems (crosses fingers) to have re-established himself as first-choice centreback, perhaps it'll be Cygan alongside Keown at the back at the Riverside. Clichy will be left back and any one of 3 at right back. With this looking a pretty strong line-up generally, perhaps Justin Hoyte will get a go.

Boro will give fitness tests to Southgate and Ehiogu, with the former much more likely to be fit. On-loan Danny Mills missed the weekend's win over his club Leeds, but could return to try to wind Reyes up in this one.

The new on-loan Brazilian that you may have heard of, Ricardinho, will not be available. He has yet to have his medical and get international clearance.