Blow for Middlesbrough striker as Neil Warnock names team to face Luton Town - with one change from Sheffield Wednesday win

Neil Warnock has made one change to his Middlesbrough side for today’s game at Luton.

Boro recorded a 3-1 win over Sheffield Wednesday last time out after goals from Yannick Bolasie, Josh Coburn and Duncan Watmore.

Chuba Akpom has dropped out of the matchday squad altogether at Kenilworth Road, with Hayden Coulson taking the striker’s place in the starting XI.

Akpom’s absence is likely to be because of injury and is a blow for the forward who will be looking to stake his claim for next season.

Warnock wants to sign three more strikers during the summer, and Akpom, 25, is likely to drop down the pecking order.

Once again, Warnock has only been able to name seven substitutes on an inexperienced bench – which includes Djed Spence, who has recently returned from injury.

Boro are likely to stick with a back three and wing-backs due to a shortage of options, with Neeskens Kebano and Marvin Johnson on the flanks.

Johnson is one of the Boro players who will be out of contract this summer and will be hoping to earn a new deal at the Riverside.

Goalkeeper Jordan Archer will also see his current deal expire at the end of the campaign and has kept his place in goal ahead of Fulham loanee Marcus Bettinelli.

Middlesbrough starting XI: Archer, McNair, Hall, Bola, Howson, Saville, Johnson, Coulson, Kebano, Bolasie, Watmore

Subs: Bettinelli, Spence, Kokolo, Robinson, Hackney, Malley, Coburn

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