Premier League team news: Middlesbrough v Hull City

Aitor Karanka is content. Credit: PA

Middlesbrough boss Aitor Karanka has reported no fresh injury concerns ahead of his side's Premier League clash with Hull at the Riverside Stadium on Monday.

Defender George Friend remains Boro's only significant absentee with the knee injury he suffered in training prior to last month's 1-0 home defeat by Chelsea.

Daniel Ayala is pushing to return after his recent ankle injury but Brazilian Fabio is expected to retain his place in the starting line-up in Friend's continued absence.

Hull midfielders Ryan Mason and Sam Clucas are back in contention for Monday night's game at Middlesbrough.

Mason missed Tuesday night's EFL Cup penalty shootout win against Newcastle due to illness and Clucas served a one-game ban.

Striker Dieumerci Mbokani starts a three-game suspension following his midweek dismissal but Abel Hernandez (groin) and midfielder Shaun Maloney (back) have not been ruled out of a possible return to action.

Provisional squads

Middlesbrough: Valdes, Guzan, Chambers, Fabio, Barragan, Nsue, Gibson, Espinosa, De Roon, Clayton, Forshaw, Downing, Ramirez, Stuani, Fischer, De Sart, Traore, Negredo, Nugent, Rhodes, Leadbitter, Ayala.

Hull City: Marshall, Jakupovic, Robertson, Dawson, Maguire, Davies, Elmohamady, Meyler, Clucas, Mason, Huddlestone, Weir, Snodgrass, Livermore, Henriksen, Diomande, Tymon, Bowen.