Skipper Luke Chambers returns to the Town side at Middlesbrough this afternoon but otherwise the Blues are unchanged from the team which beat Nottingham Forest 4-2 last weekend. Manager Mick McCarthy has opted to stick with Martyn Waghorn in the lone striker’s role.
Chambers, who was banned for the Forest match, will go back into his central defensive role with Jordan Spence switching to right-back and Dominic Iorfa dropping to the bench alongside Joe Garner, who is over the foot injury which has kept him out of the last two games.
Michael Crowe is the sub keeper with Dean Gerken having suffered a minor injury, while Flynn Downes returns to the 18 having been suspended last week.
Middlesbrough are captained by former Town skipper Grant Leadbitter, who is one of three changes to the Teessiders' line-up.
Daniel Ayala is back from suspension at the centre of the defence and Patrick Bamford starts up front. Adam Forshaw, Dael Fry and Adama Traore drop to the bench.
Middlesbrough: Randolph, Christie, Ayala, Gibson, Fabio, Leadbitter, Howson, Downing, Braithwaite, Bamford, Assombalonga. Subs: Konstantopoulos, Friend, Fry, Forshaw, Traore, Johnson, Gestede.
Town: Bialkowski, Spence, Chambers (c), Webster, Knudsen, Skuse, Connolly, Ward, Huws, Celina, Waghorn. Subs: M Crowe, Iorfa, Bishop, Garner, Sears, Downes, Kenlock. Referee: Robert Jones (Merseyside).