Middlesbrough head to Hull City on New Year’s Day still without many key players through injury.

Boro were without ten first-team players for Sunday’s draw with Burnley, though one of those absentees was Rav van den Berg, who missed the game through suspension rather than injury. As for any of the injured players though, Michael Carrick said ‘probably not’ when asked if any other players could make the trip to Hull.

The biggest blows were for Sol Brynn and Tommy Conway, with the goalkeeper facing around three months out with a shoulder injury, while Conway is facing weeks out after pulling his hamstring on Boxing Day. With all that in mind, here’s our predicted Boro team.

READ MORE: Neto Borges's new Middlesbrough role and how his team-mates might influence that

READ MORE: Michael Carrick's 'matter of time' warning for Middlesbrough as they head to in-form Hull City

GK - Tom Glover - With Brynn and Seny Dieng out, it’s to the credit of Boro’s squad depth that they have a third ready-made goalkeeper replacement in Glover. There was one edgy moment against Burnley, but he’d have otherwise taken confidence from keeping a clean sheet against one of the league’s best on his first start of the season.

DR - Anfernee Dijksteel - Dijksteel continues to impress in a season he might not have even been at Boro, but for the continued struggles of Tommy Smith to get himself back after an absence of over a year. With Ayling still out too, Dijksteel is almost certain to stay in the side for this one.

DC - Dael Fry - immense against Burnley, Fry has returned from his nine-month injury lay-off in the kind of form that epitomises just how much he missed playing during his prolonged absence. He looks Boro’s best right now.

DC - Rav van den Berg - Back from suspension for this one, we’re putting him straight back in the side. It’s harsh on George Edmundson, who was solid against Burnley. But he was straight back from injury in that one and, with this one just three days later, we’re predicting that there’s an element of protecting Edmundson by putting Van den Berg back in for this one.

DL - Neto Borges - Borges has been trying to implement a new role in the last two games as he inverts into a central position to bolster Boro’s strength in the middle of the park when in possession. Lukas Engel had a bright cameo on his return from injury from the bench on Sunday, but it seems unlikely he displaces Borges just yet.

CM - Dan Barlaser - With Aidan Morris and Jonny Howson still likely to be absent for this one, Barlaser will have another chance to continue in the side. He was really good against Burnley and if he could just produce that kind of level more consistently, he’d have a much better chance of competing for places when everyone else is fit.

CM - Hayden Hackney - Hackney is having a strange time of late. He often does a lot of positive for Boro with his positivity and energy in possession, as displayed against Burnley with his many good balls in behind for Burgzorg down the left. But there was also moments of being overly casual and giving the ball away in dangerous areas.

RW - Ben Doak - The Liverpool loanee is finding teams have done their home work and try to restrict his space. But his self-belief means he never gives up and makes the most of any opportunity he gets to attack his full-back.

AM - Finn Azaz - Quiet and looking a little lethargic on Sunday evening against Burnley, it could be that Burnley consciously attempted to man-mark him. It’s something, like Doak, he’s increasingly finding. But, as he proved against Burnley, he can still fashion a chance or two for himself.

LW - Delano Burgzorg - Riley McGree was bright from the bench against Burnley in a game where Burgzorg were bright, albeit wasteful when in promising positions. He’s enjoying a good period in the side of late though, and his threat makes him a worthy starter, particularly away from home.

ST - Emmanuel Latte Lath - With Conway out injured, Latte Lath is Boro’s only fit senior striker. Despite transfer speculation heading into the transfer window, the Ivorian continues to give his all for the Boro cause.