Ipswich Town vs Middlesbrough. Sky Bet Championship.
Portman RoadAttendance17,662.
Friday 4 December 2015 18:55, UK
Ipswich manager Mick McCarthy has no fresh injury worries ahead of Friday night's Sky Bet Championship clash with promotion hopefuls Middlesbrough, live on Sky Sports 1 HD from 7pm.
McCarthy is expected to start with the same team that beat Charlton 3-0 last weekend, extending their unbeaten run to six Championship games, with the side not losing a game in November.
The Tractor Boys are without David McGoldrick (groin), Teddy Bishop (hamstring) and Ryan Fraser (knee) who are out through long-term injuries as the side look for another win which could put them into a play-off place.
Striker Freddie Sears will be hoping to score again after hitting the back of the net for the first time in 11 games last weekend and will be looking to do the same again against Boro.
Middlesbrough head coach Aitor Karanka has no fresh problems after shuffling his pack for Tuesday night's 2-0 Capital One Cup quarter-final defeat by Everton.
Dimi Konstantopoulos, George Friend, Bruno Zuculini, Albert Adomah, Diego Fabbrini and David Nugent were all rested as Tomas Mejias, Fernando Amorebieta, Grant Leadbitter, Carlos de Pena, Cristhian Stuani and Kike came in, and the majority of them will hope to return at Portman Road, where Boro have not won a league game since March 1993.
Defender Tomas Kalas is also back in contention after missing sitting out with a minor knee problem sustained on international duty.
That means that only long-term absentees Rhys Williams (Achilles), Alex Baptiste (fractured leg) and Damia Abella (knee ligaments) remain on the casualty list, and all three are back in light training.
Watch Ipswich v Middlesbrough in the Sky Bet Championship, live on Sky Sports 1 HD from 7pm on Friday.
