Middlesbrough will continue their preparations for the return of competitive action when they take on National League outfit York City at the York Community Stadium on Friday night.
Boro opened their pre-season with a 5-0 victory over Bishop Auckland on July 2, but this match will represent York's first game since beating Boston United in the National League North playoff final.
Match preview
York finished fifth in the National League North table last season, which earned them a spot in the quarter-finals of the playoffs, where they beat Chorley before overcoming Brackley Town in the semi-finals.
The Minstermen then secured a return to the National League by recording a 2-0 victory over Boston United in the final of the playoffs, and they will be present in the fifth tier for the first time since the 2016-17 season.
There is no getting away from the fact that it has been a tough few years for York, who were a Football League side in 2016, but securing a return to the National League for the coming term was a big step forward.
John Askey's side learned on Wednesday that they will open their National League campaign at home to Woking on August 6 before making the trip to Maidstone United in their second fixture one week later.
York have been incredibly busy this summer in terms of incomings, with Luke James, Lenell John-Lewis and Fraser Kerr among the players to arrive on free transfers for the coming campaign.
Middlesbrough, meanwhile, finished seventh in the Championship last season, missing out on the playoffs by five points, and they ended their campaign with a heavy 4-1 defeat at Preston North End.
Boro have already started their preparations for the 2022-23 season, though, recording a 5-0 victory over Bishop Auckland on July 2, with a number of players taking the opportunity to impress.
Darragh Lenihan and Ryan Giles both made their debuts in the five-goal success, with head coach Chris Wilder using two different XIs in each half, which could again be the case in this match.
Middlesbrough will take on Sporting Braga, Morecambe and Marseille in their three friendlies after this one before starting their 2022-23 Championship campaign at home to West Bromwich Albion on July 30.
Wilder will be desperate to get some more players through the door before the return of competitive action, and it will be fascinating to see whether the team can again make a push for the playoffs next term.
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Team News
York are likely to hand debuts to a number of new arrivals in this match, with James, Manny Duku, Scott Boden, Fraser Kerr and Scott Burgess all in line to start.
The team could be unrecognisable from the one that finished last season, with a number of players also moving on at the end of their contracts, so it is set to be a fascinating campaign for the club.
Ethan Ross has also arrived on loan from Stockport County and could start between the sticks, while Mitch Hancox might be given the nod at left-back for the home side.
As mentioned, Lenihan and Giles both made their Boro debuts in the five-goal win over Bishop Auckland, and it would not be a surprise to see the pair named in the first XI once again.
The Championship outfit could line up in a 3-5-2 formation, with Jonny Howson, Matt Crooks and Riley McGree potentially again featuring as the midfield three.
Duncan Watmore could also continue in the final third of the field, while there might be a second appearance for the club for Liam Roberts, who has arrived on a free transfer from Northampton Town this summer.
York City possible starting lineup:
Ross; Fallowfield, Kerr, Hancox, Crookes; Burgess, Mafuta, Greaves; James, Duku, Bosen
Middlesbrough possible starting lineup:
Roberts; Lenihan, McNair, Bilongo; Smith, Howson, Crooks, McGree, Giles; Watmore, Coburn
We say: York City 1-3 Middlesbrough
York's side is expected to include a number of new faces, but the bulk of Middlesbrough's team are used to playing together, and the Championship outfit were impressive last time out. It should be a competitive contest, but we are expecting Boro to win this game due to their superior quality across the field.
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