Cardiff City manager Russell Slade has reinstated Aron Gunnarsson to his side's starting XI ahead of their Championship clash against Middlesbrough at the Cardiff City Stadium.

Gunnarsson, Kagisho Dikgacoi and Peter Whittingham all occupy central areas while Craig Noone has been preferred to Anthony Pilkington, left on the bench.

Meanwhile Joe Ralls is out, Fabio da Silva returns to left-back in place of Scott Malone, Alex Revell comes in for Sammy Ameobi up front, and Matt Kennedy is named on the bench.

For Boro, Christian Stuani misses out, while the in-form Fernando Amorebieta returns to the heart of the defence in place of Ben Gibson and Albert Adomah replaces Carlos de Pena.

Cardiff City: Marshall, Peltier, Morrison, Connolly, Fabio, Dikgacoi, Gunnarsson, Whittingham, Noone, Revell, Mason
Subs: Moore, Malone, Tamas, O'Keefe, Pilkington, Kennedy, Ameobi

Middlesbrough: Konstantopoulos, Kalas, Ayala, Amorebieta, Friend, Clayton, Leadbitter, Downing, Fabbrini, Adomah, Nugent
Subs: Mejias, Gibson, Kike, De Pena, Stephens, Nsue, Forshaw