Eighth-place Blackburn Rovers face 14th-place Middlesbrough in their Premiership fixture at Ewood Park on Saturday.

Rovers have won their last three league games as Mark Hughes' side are back on track after a slump.

Boro have taken seven points from their last six league games and manager Gareth Southgate will be looking to get points to keep his side away from the relegation zone.

Brett Emerton and Tugay are back in the frame after recovering from their injuries. Striker Jason Roberts is close to getting a start after coming off the bench to score the winning goal in the closing stages against Bolton.

Midfielder Julio Arca is back from suspension; Jonathan Woodgate (shin injury) and Emanuel Pogatetz (illness)also return. Lee Cattermole (illness) and injured Mido miss out.

Teams:

Blackburn (from): Friedel, Samba, Nelsen, Warnock, Khizanishvili, Ooijer, Emerton, Bentley, Pedersen, Dunn, Reid, Tugay, McCarthy, Santa Cruz, Berner, Derbyshire, Gallagher, Olsson, Rigters, Roberts, Treacy, Brown.

Middlesbrough (from): Schwarzer, Turnbull, Young, Pogatetz, Grounds, Woodgate, Huth, Wheater, Riggott, O'Neil, Boateng, Rochemback, Arca, Downing, Johnson, Tuncay, Aliadiere, Lee.