ZACK STEFFEN will make his first appearance in a Middlesbrough shirt as Chris Wilder's side take on Marseille in their final pre-season friendly.

Steffen starts in goal at the Riverside, with fellow summer signings Darragh Lenihan and Ryan Giles also named in the Teessiders' starting XI.

With Paddy McNair and Dael Fry both absent, Lenihan is expected to play between Anfernee Dijksteel and Marc Bola in the back three.

Marcus Tavernier starts for Boro despite mounting speculation linking him with a possible move to Premier League newcomers Bournemouth, with Riley McGree is expected to line up in an advanced number ten role.

With Boro having been unable to sign any strikers so far this summer, Duncan Watmore will lead the line as the Teessiders' central striker.

There is also a surprise return to the squad for Chuba Akpom, with the forward, who had previously been ruled out Wilder's plans, having been named on the substitutes' bench.

MIDDLESBROUGH (3-5-1-1): Steffen; Dijksteel, Lenihan, Bola; Jones, Crooks, Howson, Tavernier, Giles; McGree; Watmore.

Subs: Roberts (gk), Daniels (gk), Smith, Bilongo, Finch, Gibson, Coulson, Akpom, Coburn, Boyd-Munce, Kavanagh.