New signings Albert Adomah and Frazer Richardson have been handed their home debuts for Middlesbrough, but Jason Steele misses out having been substituted with an ankle injury in last week's 1-0 away victory over Charlton Athletic.
Blackpool manager Paul Ince is still without the services of Thomas Ince due to suspension, while fellow midfielder Matt Phillips is missing with a broken arm. Michael Chopra drops to the bench and in comes midfielder Angel Martinez.
Middlesbrough: Leutwiler; Williams, Whitehead, Richardson, Carayol, Friend, Jutkiewicz, Leadbitter, Adomah, Varga, Woodgate
Blackpool: Gilks; Broadfoot, Cathcart, MacKenzie, Robinson, Ferguson, Osbourne, Angel, Bishop, Basham, Davies