Middlesbrough play host to Preston North End on Saturday afternoon looking to build on their positive start to the season.
At a time when Boro occupy seventh position in the Championship standings, Preston are down in 21st place after already posting three defeats.
Match preview
© Imago
After the positivity from the opening two games of the season, Middlesbrough faced a battle to get back on track before the international break.
A share of the spoils at home to Portsmouth was only salvaged through a last-gasp penalty before Boro were humiliated in the EFL Cup second round by Stoke City, who ran out 5-0 victors at the Riverside Stadium.
However, Michael Carrick's side impressively bounced back in South Wales last time out, scoring two second-half goals to get the better of Cardiff City.
Boro had previously gone seven halves of football with just one goal from open play, which would have concerned Carrick as he attempts to avoid the slow start that hindered their efforts last season.
As it stands, Boro are within three points of second-placed West Bromwich Albion, and another win here would see them shoot up the table and keep in touch with the early pacesetters.
Having appointed Paul Heckingbottom as their new head coach, Preston made the perfect start to life under a different boss with successive wins and clean sheets.
A 1-0 victory was posted at home to Luton Town in the Championship before North End thrashed Harrogate Town by a 5-0 scoreline on their travels in the EFL Cup.
Nevertheless, Preston have since been brought back down to earth with a 3-1 reverse at Oxford United in a game in which they took a third-minute lead.
That would have served as a reminder to Heckingbottom that there were reasons why they had initially lost their opening two Championship fixtures of the season and conceded five goals in the process.
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Team News
Barring any fitness issues, Carrick will be prepared to select the same Middlesbrough side that won at Cardiff before the international break.
George Edmundson and Ben Doak, who have arrived from Ipswich Town and Liverpool respectively, are expected to start on the substitutes' bench.
Rav van den Berg, Lukas Engel and Jonny Howson could also return to the squad after their respective injuries.
Preston will make one change at the back with Liam Lindsay serving a one-match ban for the two yellow cards that he picked up at Oxford.
Jack Whatmough could be recalled in his place, while Duane Holmes and Milutin Osmajic are pushing for recalls in midfield and attack.
Middlesbrough possible starting lineup:
Dieng; Dijksteel, Ayling, Clarke, Borges; Morris, Hackney; Jones, Conway, Azaz; Burgzorg
Preston North End possible starting lineup:
Woodman; Storey, Whatmough, Hughes; Potts, Thordarson, Whiteman, Greenwood, Kesler-Hayden; Osmajic, Riis
We say: Middlesbrough 2-1 Preston North End
Heckingbottom will feel that his side are better prepared for the next stretch of matches after the international break. Nevertheless, Boro will back themselves to add another home victory to their tally, even if they are made to work hard for it.
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Darren Plant
