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Jordan Rhodes drops down to the Middlesbrough FC bench this afternoon for the Championship showdown at Fulham.

Boro's £9m January signing is one of three changes to the side that beat Cardiff on Tuesday, with George Friend and Tomas Kalas also dropping out of the XI.

David Nugent - who scored from the bench against the Bluebirds - is restored to the Boro line-up by Aitor Karanka, while Ritchie De Laet replaces Friend at left-back.

In the final change, Ben Gibson returns from suspension to replace Kalas in the centre of defence, partnering 18-year-old Dael Fry.

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Dimi Konstantopoulos continues in goal, behind a back four of Emilio Nsue, Gibson, Fry and De Laet.

Adam Forshaw and captain Grant Leadbitter again form Boro's defensive shield in the absence of the suspended Adam Clayton.

Albert Adomah, Gaston Ramirez and Stewart Downing are again deployed as the attacking trio, behind lone striker Nugent.

(Image: 2016 Getty Images)

Meanwhile Ross McCormack - a reported January transfer target for Boro - starts up front for Fulham, having scored a hat-trick in this fixture last season.

Boro team: Dimi, Nsue, Fry, Gibson, De Laet, Forshaw, Leadbitter, Adomah, Ramirez, Downing, Nugent

Subs: Mejias, Rhodes, Friend, de Pena, De Sart, Stuani, Kalas

Fulham team: Lonergan, Fredericks, Stearman, Burn, Madl, Garbutt, Cairney, Baird, Parker, Tunnicliffe, McCormack

Subs: Lewis, Richards, Dembele, Labyad, O'Hara, Kacaniklic, Hyndman.