MIDDLESBROUGH have been dealt a fresh injury blow, with Rav van den Berg missing today's game against Coventry City with a knee problem.

The severity of the injury is not yet known.

Ben Doak is also missing against the Sky Blues, with Carrick opting to rest the winger after he felt tightness in his hamstring this week. The Liverpool loanee has a chance of returning for Tuesday's game at QPR.

Carrick said: "Unfortunately Rav felt his knee in training in the last day or so, so he misses out today.

"Ben is more of a fatigue thing. His hamstring was a bit tight. We've tried to manage him a bit.

"He missed a few months towards the end of last season, he's not played an awful lot of football and he's played the last eight games in a row, including Scotland games. We knew we had to be careful with him. He just felt it ever so slightly, maybe Tuesday he'll be OK, we'll have to wait and see. It's not major."

Doak is replaced by Isaiah Jones on the right flank for Boro, with Matt Clarke partnering George Edmundson at centre-half in the absence of van den Berg.

Carrick has also opted to recall Luke Ayling at right-back, despite Anfernee Dijksteel's hugely impressive display at Norwich last week.

Ayling captains Boro.

Dael Fry is back on the bench but there's no Marcus Forss in the squad. 

Visiting boss Mark Robins has also made three changes, with former Everton striker and Sunderland loanee Ellis Simms missing for the Sky Blues.

BORO: Dieng, Ayling, Edmundson, Clarke, Borges; Morris, Hackney, Jones, Azaz, McGree, Conway

SUBS: Brynn, Barlaser, Fry, Latte Lath, Burgzorg, Dijksteel, Howson, Hamilton, McCormick

COVENTRY: Dovin; Latibeaudiere, Thomas, Binks; van Ewijk, Eccles, Sheaf, Rudoni; Torp; Thomas-Asante, Wright.

SUBS: Collins (GK), Bell (GK), Kitching, Dasilva, Sakamoto, Bassette, Tavares, Mason-Clark, Andrews.