JONNY HOWSON has been passed fit to start for Middlesbrough in this evening's Carabao Cup semi-final decider against Chelsea - but Isaiah Jones misses out through the injury he suffered in Saturday's draw with Rotherham.

Howson is back at the heart of Boro's midfield as part of four changes to the team that lined up at the weekend.

Rav van den Berg returns as part of the back four, playing alongside Dael Fry, Matt Clarke and Lukas Engel.

Matt Crooks is also back in the starting line-up, along with Marcus Forss, who made a goalscoring contribution as a substitute against Rotherham.

There is no Jones in the Boro side though, with the winger having been ruled out because of the injury that forced him off in the first half against the Millers.

Luke Ayling, Finn Azaz and Sam Greenwood also drop out of Michael Carrick's side at Stamford Bridge as they are all cup-tied after playing for other sides in the earlier rounds of the competition.

Chelsea boss Mauricio Pochettino has recalled left-back Ben Chilwell to his starting line-up and has also selected Mykhailo Mudyrk in his starting XI.


CHELSEA (4-2-3-1): Petrovic; Disasi, Silva, Colwill, Chilwell; Caicedo, Fernandez; Sterling, Palmer, Mudryk; Broja.

Subs: Bergstrom, Curd, Badisashile, Gilchrist, Gallagher, Chukwuemeka, Castledine, Madueke, Washington.


MIDDLESBROUGH (4-2-3-1): Glover; van den Berg, Fry, Clarke, Engel; Howson, Barlaser; Forss, Crooks, Hackney; Rogers.

Subs: J Jones, Gilbert, Dijksteel, McNair, Coburn, O'Brien, McCabe, Bridge, Bilongo.