MIDDLESBROUGH return to Championship action when they take on Queens Park Rangers at Loftus Road tonight.

Here's everything you need to know ahead of the game:

WHAT TIME IS KICK-OFF?

Boro are away at Loftus Road, with the game kicking off at 7.45pm.

Boro will be looking for a repeat of last season, when they won 2-0 in west London - but that followed a five-game winless stretch at Loftus Road.

Rangers drew 0-0 with Sunderland last time out.

ARE TICKETS STILL AVAILABLE?

No. Boro had a limited number of tickets still available at the start of the week but they were taken off sale on Monday lunchtime.

HOW CAN I WATCH THE GAME?

The game is being shown live on Sky Sports+.

It's one of six Championship games available tonight, with Plymouth vs Portsmouth the feature match on Sky Sports Football.

Radio commentary will be provided by BBC Tees.

We'll be running our live blog from Loftus Road throughout the evening and will provide full analysis and reaction after the game online and in the paper.

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WHAT IS MIDDLESBROUGH'S LIKELY LINE-UP?

Boro will again be without Rav van den Berg, who will be missing until after the international break with a knee injury.

But Ben Doak could return having been rested for Saturday's defeat to Coventry City.

If Doak is selected, Isaiah Jones will drop out of the side, while Carrick must decide whether to freshen up his attack elsewhere after the heavy Coventry defeat.

Hayden Hackney is suspended after his sending off at the weekend, with Jonny Howson set to make his first Championship start of the season.

Dael Fry is available and could make his first appearance for more than six months. Marcus Forss is also set to return to the bench.

PREDICTED XI: Dieng, Ayling, Edmundson, Fry, Borges; Howson, Morris; Doak, Conway, McGree, Latte Lath

HOW ARE QPR SHAPING UP?

Marti Cifuentes did a superb job of guiding QPR to Championship safety last season but they haven't been able to kick on so far this term.

QPR are second bottom having won only once so far this season - and that came on the road. Only Portsmouth have a worse home record than Rangers.

Despite those frustrations, Cifuentes - whose side drew 0-0 with 10-man Sunderland at the weekend - insists he sees progress.

He said: “I see my team playing with big personality and despite some setbacks, trying to be strong and focus on what we can control, which is our performances.

“We contained a team like Sunderland to almost no chances. There are a lot of positives and my job is to make sure that we reflect on that.

“No excuses – keep on working until it works. I’m aware we’re not here to draw games, we’re here to win, but the better we play the more chances we’re going to have to win and this performance is a step in the right direction.

“We’re missing the victories, I’m aware of that, but look at the progress and trust in what we are doing.

“We need to do better, but I see progress in the team that hopefully will give us the results that we’re chasing. I think this team is progressing.”