Daniel Ayala will play for managerless Middlesbrough for the first time since arriving on loan from Norwich City in their Championship match with Doncaster Rovers at the Riverside Stadium tonight.

Mark Venus is in caretaker charge following the dismissal of Tony Mowbray earlier this week, and is able to call upon the services of former England international Jonathan Woodgate as Ayala's centre-back partner.

Woodgate's return is one of six changes made by Venus, with Rhys Williams recalled at right-back and Mustapha Carayol and Richard Smallwood named in a midfield which is without Dean Whitehead.

Marvin Emnes is handed a start in attack as the hosts look to record just their third Championship win of the season, against a Rovers side that are level on points with them in the table.

Doncaster boss Paul Dickov makes just one adjustment to the XI that began the 4-1 defeat to Reading, with goalscoring substitute Theo Robinson replacing Richie Wellens.

Boro: Steele; Williams, Woodgate, Ayala, Gibson; Smallwood, Leadbitter, Adomah, Carayol; Emnes, Kamara

Doncaster: Turnbull; Quinn, Jones, Khumalo, Wabara, Keegan Furman, Duffy, Coppinger; Robinson, Brown