The interesting Middlesbrough selection dilemmas facing Kevin Blackwell and Ronnie Jepson ahead of Bournemouth clash

Boro boss Neil Warnock won’t be in attendance after testing positive for Covid-19 and is now self-isolating in accordance with Government guidelines.

The match will go ahead as planned and Bournemouth boss Jason Tindall has said he’s confident all safety protocols will be in place.

Ahead of the Championship fixture, we take a closer look at some of the selection calls Blackwell and Jepson will have to consider.

Can Morsy and Howson play together?

Boro completed their third signing of the transfer window last week after Sam Morsy arrived from Wigan and penned a three-year deal at the Riverside.

The 29-year-old made his debut against Barnsley in the Carabao Cup last week, and the midfielder’s 70-minute run-out was one of the few positives on a disappointing evening.

Before the game, Warnock said Morsy had been signed because Howson was Boro’s only option in the holding midfield role - so could they play together?

In the Teessiders’ prefered 3-5-2 formation there is room for two central midfielders and one playmaker, a role which Marcus Tavernier has occupied for Boro’s first three competitive fixtures this term.

Howson has been a key player under Warnock and will almost certainly start if available against Bournemouth, while George Saville has started Boro’s last nine league games.

So will Saville drop out for Morsy against the Cherries? Could the former be deployed further forward? Will Paddy McNair return to a central midfield role?

It will be interesting to see what the team sheet looks like at 2pm on Saturday.

Who will start at the back?

McNair’s role is also an interesting one.

The 25-year-old has previously said he prefers playing in central midfield and he’s shown his capabilities in that position over the last 12 months.

Yet the Northern Ireland international also has the attributes to play in defence, as he did at Watford and in the second half against Barnsley.

Assuming Boro will stick with a back three, it seems likely Grant Hall will start in the heart of defence, with Anfernee Dijksteel occupying the right centre-back role after his impressive display at Watford.

That means either McNair or Dael Fry would line-up on the left, after the latter played 90 minutes against Barnsley in midweek.

McNair made an impact after coming off the bench on Tuesday, even though he was playing at the back, and it would be a surprise if he was left out of the starting XI this weekend.

Will Marcus Tavernier keep his place?

The 21-year-old enjoyed a strong finish to last season, which will have helped earn Tavernier a starting place for Boro’s first three competitive fixtures this term.

Yet the attacking midfielder spent most of the game on the fringes against Watford last week, and was disappointing against Barnsley in the cup.

Tavernier possesses pace and energy which can hurt teams, making him a lead candidate to start in the attacking midfield role.

Yet his performances will have to improve if he is to keep his place, and Boro’s coaching staff may feel it’s time to take him out of the side with other midfield options available.

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