Middlesbrough predicted line up vs Oxford United with three changes from the side that beat Luton

Middlesbrough will be without Aidan Morris on Saturday at Oxford United after the midfielder suffered a knee injury while on international duty - and they might also be without his partner Hayden Hackney too.

Hackney is to be assessed ahead of the game after an ankle injury kept him out of England Under-21's recent games, with Michael Carrick updating that Boro's other seven international players had otherwise returned injury-free. Now hoping to maintain the strong form ahead of the break, Carrick must decide how many changes he makes for the trip to the Kassam Stadium.

Surely in his considerations will be how far his players have travelled in recent days to return from representing their countries, while the fact Boro face two more games in the next seven days will come into his thinking also. Here's how we predict Boro will line-up against the U's.

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GK - Seny Dieng - Back from Senegal having been unused in their two AFCON qualifiers, Dieng is back on Teesside ready to get straight back to action for Boro. After recent question marks, the number one has recently stepped up to prove his worth.

DR - Luke Ayling - It's harsh on Anfernee Dijskteel but after being away with Suriname, it offers Michael Carrick an easy opportunity to move Ayling back to his natural side as Neto Borges returns to fitness after missing the Luton game through illness.

DC - George Edmundson - Edmundson's excellent start at Boro was emphasised against Luton when Edmundson played through illness and was sick twice during the game but still battled through to help his side dominate and pick up a big win. Dael Fry is back fit, but Edmundson shows little sign of giving his place up easily.

DC - Matt Clarke - Clarke has been one of Boro's most consistent performers over the last six months or so, but since returning from a recent injury, he's looked a little rusty. He's had particular issues in possession when playing the ball out of defence, which has always been a bit of a question mark for him regarding Carrick's preferred style of play. He's proven previously he's more than capable, but with Fry back fit and Van den Berg following shortly behind, Clarke needs to step things up.

DL - Neto Borges - Back in contention after missing Luton through illness, Borges will surely come straight back into the Boro side in the first of three changes we're predicting. The Brazilian is starting to grow in a Boro shirt and hopefully Boro's overall uplift in form can help him too.

CM - Jonny Howson - While Dan Barlaser will hope his recent goal at QPR pushes his case, the obvious pick to replace the injured Aidan Morris is Jonny Howson. The Boro skipper's recent return from injury is now particularly timely after Morris injury while on international duty. Howson may now by 36 but there was little sign he'd missed a beat in outings against Coventry and QPR.

CM - Hayden Hackney - Hackney is to be assessed after withdrawing from the England U21 squad with an ankle problem. We're being positive in the hope that he makes it and is able to be part of the Boro side this weekend, having also withdrawn from the last international camp only to play against Bristol City in Boro's first game back. The severity of his problem didn't sound as serious as Morris's.

RW - Ben Doak - It was another really positive international break for Ben Doak as he continues to go from strength to strength. He played key roles in victories over Croatia and Poland, including providing an assist in the latter. He'll be hoping to continue making a similarly big impact for Boro.

AM - Tommy Conway - We're going for a bit of a change-up in attack, as Carrick faces an interesting dilemma and a choice on Riley McGree, who rarely plays the first game back after being away with Australia. While Delano Burgzorg was really promising against Luton, Carrick would have the tough choice of picking between the in-form Conway and Emmanuel Latte Lath unless he plays them together - as he did earlier in the season. That's exactly what we're predicting at Oxford.

LW - Finn Azaz - Azaz's best form in a Boro shirt has always come form the number ten role and, given his recent form has been particularly strong, moving him to the left feels a harsh decision. But as well as ensuring he stays in the team while allowing for both Conway and Latte Lath to start, moving Azaz to a role Carrick remains convinced he can play, at a time when his confidence can seldom be higher, could be the perfect timing.

ST - Emmanuel Latte Lath - As already hinted above, we're predicting that Latte Lath will keep his place in the Boro side at Oxford after the Ivorian has refound his goalscoring touch of late with three goals in his last five appearances (only one of which wasn't from the bench). His goal against Luton was of the highest quality and showed a player that looked to be oozing confidence again.