Middlesbrough’s clash with Burnley feels like a huge game after Boxing Day’s collapse against Sheffield Wednesday.

In the Championship promotion race, Boro dropped another two points as they surrendered a three-goal lead against the Owls, with their defensive struggles coming to the fore again. Just weeks after drawing with Burnley at Turf Moor, they now host them at the Riverside, in need of all three points.

In what is already a tough game, highlighted by Burnley’s Boxing Day win at Sheffield United, Boro’s task is all the more harder because of the amount of key players they will be missing for the game. Here’s how we predict a much-changed Boro side will look.

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GK - Tom Glover - With Seny Dieng and Sol Brynn out of this one, Carrick’s summer decision to carry three goalkeepers who all have first-choice aspirations might just pay off. A full international approaching his prime years, Glover isn’t your standard third-choice keeper. He had good moments and bad during his spell in the side last term and will likely need to be at his best for Boro in this one.

DR - Anfernee Dijksteel - Luke Ayling has a chance of being back for this one, and his experience could be key. But just coming back from injury, putting him straight back in against Burnley’s pacy wingers could be asking for trouble. Dijksteel had a good game at Turf Moor so there’s no reason he can’t continue that.

DC - Dael Fry - As expected, Fry returned to the Boro line-up against Sheffield Wednesday. He looked a little edgy at times, but in general was far removed from carrying any blame for the second-half collapse. He was immense at Turf Moor earlier this month and will hopefully handle the Clarets in a similar way.

DC - Matt Clarke - Boro’s depth at centre is likely to prove vital for this one. Rav van den Berg is suspended and George Edmundson is a doubt after missing Sheffield Wednesday with a knock. Even if back in the squad, it’s likely Matt Clarke gets the nod. It wasn’t easy but, down to ten men, he and Fry did enough to ensure Boro held onto a point at least.

DL - Neto Borges - Borges is a doubt for this game after going off late against Sheffield Wednesday. But Carrick said it was just fatigue and there’s every chance there was a bit of dark arts going on as Boro looked to run down the clock while holding onto a point while a man light. We’re predicting Borges is fine to continue on Sunday, but if not, Lukas Engel has made a timely return.

CM - Dan Barlaser - Carrick has said Aidan Morris won’t be back for this one, which is a blow, while Jonny Howson is also a doubt with the niggle that kept him out on Boxing Day. That likely means Dan Barlaser must stay in the side. He often struggles in games like this and can be easily overrun in the middle of the park. To be fair though, he had a great game in the reverse fixture.

CM - Hayden Hackney - Positive from an attacking sense for Boro, Hackney still struggled in the absence of Morris to help Boro get a grip of the game by winning the midfield battle. Boro need him to assert more authority in this one.

RW - Ben Doak - The Liverpool loanee grabbed a goal against the Owls and played a big role in Boro’s third. He remains one of Boro’s biggest attacking assets because of the way in which he can hurt teams within the blink of an eye.

AM - Finn Azaz - Two goals and an assist for Azaz improved his already impressive statistics for the season. He remains a central figure to Boro’s attack and will be fresh for this one having been sacrificed on the hour mark when Boro went down to ten men on Boxing Day.

LW - Delano Burgzorg - One of Boro’s best on Boxing day, he complemented the direct dribbling style of Doak on the right well, with his own explosive dribbling a big factor in advancing Boro up the pitch at speed. He worked hard defensively too and deserves to keep his place.

ST - Emmanuel Latte Lath - The extent of Tommy Conway’s hamstring injury suffered early on against Sheffield Wednesday is unknown, but it feels unlikely he starts this one just three days later. It means Latte Lath will return to the starting line-up.