Hayden Coulson of Middlesbrough battles for possession with Matthew Pennington of Hull City.Hayden Coulson of Middlesbrough battles for possession with Matthew Pennington of Hull City.
Hayden Coulson of Middlesbrough battles for possession with Matthew Pennington of Hull City.

The Middlesbrough starting XI which could face QPR - with four changes from Barnsley loss

Middlesbrough have five league games remaining this season as manager Neil Warnock looks to assess and shape his squad ahead of the 2021/22 campaign.

Boro have slipped too far away from the play-off places to challenge for promotion this term, while key first-team players such as Dael Fry, Marcus Tavernier, Sam Morsy and Anfernee Dijksteel have been ruled out for the rest of the season.

Warnock will therefore be handing some of his younger players an opportunity in the next few weeks, with striker Josh Coburn, as well as midfielders Hayden Hackney and Connor Malley, training with the first team.

The Teessiders were beaten 2-0 at Barnsley last time out and have now gone four games without a win.

Warnock may also choose to change his side’s formation against QPR to play with a back three and wing-backs and match the visitors up.

Here’s who we think could start for Boro at the Riverside.