Gareth Southgate’s Middlesbrough take on Stoke City at the Riverside Stadium on Saturday.

Boro will feel hard done by to have been beaten 2-1 by a late winner against Liverpool at Anfield last week, but can take lots of positives out of the game, with the North East side looking impressive early on in the Premier League with a win against Tottenham Hotspur.

The Potters will have been glad to secure their first Premiership points last week in a 3-2 thriller against Aston Villa at the Britannia Stadium, with boss Tony Pulis hoping to take that form into this clash at the Riverside, having lost their opening fixture to Bolton Wanderers.

Middlesbrough will be without Julio Arca (sprained ankle) and Brad Jones (wrist), but could hand starts to summer signings Didier Digard and Marvin Emnes, who both impressed in the Carling Cup win over Yeovil Town.

The only injury concern for Pulis is new signing Andrew Davies, who is struggling to shake off a knee injury in time for the trip to the Riverside. Otherwise Stoke have a fully fit squad to choose from.

Middlesbrough: (from) Ross Turnbull, Justin Hoyte, Andrew Taylor, Gary O’Neil, Chris Riggot, Emanuel Pogatetz, Didier Digard, Mido, Jeremie Aliadiere, Marvin Emnes, Alfonso Alves, Robert Huth, Tuncay Sanli, Stewart Downing, Jason Steele, Matthew Bates, Adam Johnson, David Wheater, Graeme Owens, Seb Hines, Rhys Williams, Josh Walker, Tom Craddock.

Stoke City: (from) Steve Simonsen, Andy Griffin, Seyi Olofinjana, Leon Cort, Glenn Whelan, Liam Lawrence, Jon Parkin, Richard Cresswell, Ricardo Fuller, Mamady Sidibe, Dave Kitson, Danny Pugh, Dominic, Matteo, Ryan Shawcross, Salif Diao, Amdy Faye, Richie de Laet, Lewis Buxton, Rory Delap, Abdoulaye Faye, Demar Phillips, Andy Wilkinson, Thomas Sorensen, Carl Dickinson, Marc Grocott.