PADDY McNAIR returns to action in Middlesbrough's pre-season friendly at Bradford City this evening.

McNair has missed Boro's last two pre-season matches after suffering a knock, but the Northern Irishman returns to action this evening as the Teessiders play their penultimate friendly of the summer.

The centre-half is one of the few experienced figures in an otherwise extremely youthful Boro starting side.

Tom Glover starts in goal following his summer move from Australia, with Rav van den Berg and Hayden Coulson filling the full-back positions and Jack Collins playing alongside McNair at the heart of the back four.

Jack Stott partners Martin Payero at the base of midfield, with Isaiah Jones and Sammy Silvera expected to fill the wide-attacking positions.

Alex Gilbert is set to start in the 'number ten' role, with Matthew Hoppe getting the nod to play in attack.

Michael Carrick has opted to rest most of Boro's senior players, who are expected to feature when Auxerre visit the Riverside on Saturday.


MIDDLESBROUGH (4-2-3-1): Glover, van den Berg, Hannah, McNair, Coulson; Stott, Payero; I Jones, Gilbert, Silvera; Hoppe.

Subs: J Jones, Collins, Bilongo, Cartwright, Simpson, Agyemang, Nkrumah, Sykes.