Middlesbrough striker Jordan Rhodes could be handed the chance to stake his claim for a regular place in Aitor Karanka's starting line-up in Wednesday night's EFL Cup tie at Fulham.
Rhodes, a £9 million signing from Blackburn Rovers in January, has had to watch on from the sidelines as newly promoted Boro have made an unbeaten start in the Premier League, and reports emerged last week that he could be on his way out of the club.
He was an unused substitute in the opening-day 1-1 draw against Stoke and left out of the squad altogether in Sunday's 2-1 win at Sunderland, but Karanka has insisted the 26-year-old remains part of his plans and hinted he could feature in the second-round tie at Craven Cottage.