Middlesbrough head to Portsmouth this weekend looking for just their second win in seven games after an underwhelming festive period.

Looking to kick-on and fully establish themselves as a serious top-six contender, now is the time for Michael Carrick’s side to really step-up as focus turned fully to the Championship after last weekend’s FA Cup defeat. They should welcome Aidan Morris and Luke Ayling back to the squad this weekend.

There are a couple of developing transfer stories that could impact Carrick’s team selection this weekend though - namely the one that sees Emmanuel Latte Lath the subject of an offer worth up to £20 million from Atlanta United. With the Boro boss facing a dilemma over whether to start the striker amid such uncertainty, we name our predicted team for the game.

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GK - Tom Glover - With Glover the only senior keeper fit right now it’s pretty much a cert that he will be starting at Fratton Park this weekend. Dieng is said to be making good progress and a loan deal for Mark Travers is being explored, but it will be Glover for the time being.

DR - Anfernee Dijksteel - Though Ayling could be back in the squad this weekend, it feels unlikely we’ll see him from the start. It would be extremely harsh on Dijksteel in any case, with the Suriname international doing little wrong during this extended spell in the side.

DC - Dael Fry - Though at fault for Cardiff City’s equaliser a fortnight ago, Fry has otherwise been faultless since his return from nine months out. A good rest last weekend should leave him fresh to return for this one and hopefully cement his starting spot.

DC - Rav van den Berg - Like Fry, the Dutchman enjoyed a rest in the FA Cup last weekend. But seemingly establishing himself as a guaranteed starter in recent weeks since his injury return, you’d expect him to start this one too.

DL - Neto Borges - Lukas Engel’s start against Blackburn offered Borges a much-needed rest. Engel did well, but it still feels like Borges is the preferred of the two right now. With Ryan Giles transfer speculation coming around again, Borges could do with a big performance.

CM - Hayden Hackney - Afforded a rest last weekend, he stayed sharp with a 20-minute cameo that will hopefully do the midfield star the world of good. A big 20 games await and Boro need Hackney at his best.

CM - Dan Barlaser - After impressing again in the cup, many will no doubt like to see Law McCabe start this weekend, assuming Morris is not thrown straight back in from the start. But with Carrick urging caution of McCabe, it feels unlikely to be anyone but Barlaser alongside Hackney in the Boro midfield.

RW - Ben Doak - Rested last weekend amid speculation surrounding his future, things appear to have calmed down this week as interested parties appear to be put off by Liverpool’s asking price. That can be Boro’s gain and Carrick insisted he’d be back in the squad at Pompey.

AM - Finn Azaz - Azaz was rested completely last weekend after a lot of football of late. Alex Gilbert did well and continues to push as healthy competition in the Boro squad shows. But Azaz is the man in possession of the starting spot when fit, and deservedly so.

LW - Delano Burgzorg - There’s an argument that Riley McGree starts this one on the left wing and Burgzorg stays at centre-forward due to Latte Lath’s future uncertainty. However, Burgzorg’s never looked convincing as a striker and Boro need results. So until a time that Latte Lath is no longer a Boro player, or shows any signs of downing tools for a move, he should continue and that means Burgzorg deserves the start at left wing.

ST - Emmanuel Latte Lath - As noted above, Latte Lath is expected to travel with Boro to the South coast on Friday and be involved this weekend. It’s a dilemma whether to start hin or not, but Carrick praised his attitude in training this week, while he’s never shown signs on the pitch of giving anything less than 100%. This feels like an important game for Boro, so Latte Lath should start.