MICHAEL Carrick has made four changes to his Middlesbrough team at Preston.

Matt Clarke, Luke Thomas, Jonny Howson and Riley McGree come into the team, replacing Dael Fry, Lukas Engel, Lewis O'Brien and Dan Barlaser.

Fry is missing from the squad having picked up a knock.

It's a first start for Thomas at left-back and it's McGree's first start since returning from the Asian Cup. Hayden Hackney drops back into midfield.

Sam Greenwood continues up-front, with Matthew Hoppe included in a matchday squad for the first time this season. Tom Glover is again in goal, with Seny Dieng on the bench.

Boro: Glover, Ayling, van den Berg, Clarke, Thomas; Howson, Hackney; Forss, Azaz, McGree, Greenwood

Subs: Dieng, Barlaser, Hoppe, Gilbert, Dijksteel, McNair, Silvera, Engel, O'Brien

Preston: Woodman, Hughes, Lindsay, Storey; Brady, Millar, Browne, Frokjaer-Jenson, Whiteman, Jakobsen, Keane

Subs: Cornell, Cunningham, Seary, Whatmough, Ledson, McCann, Woodburn, Osmajic, Stewart