Preview: Preston North End vs. Middlesbrough

League One outfit Preston North End welcome Middlesbrough to Deepdale on Tuesday in the third round of the League Cup.

Preston have began their season in a fairly solid run of form, picking up 11 points from eight games to sit in 11th spot in the table.

Middlesbrough, meanwhile, currently sit eighth in the Championship table following an indifferent start to the season, but they enter the match off the back of a morale-boosting 2-1 win over Blackburn Rovers on Friday.

Preston are expected to hand a start to German goalkeeper Thorsten Stuckmann in place of Steve Simonsen. Meanwhile, Akpo Sodje and Jack King are also expected to start at Deepdale.

Middlesbrough have no fresh injury concerns following their victory over Blackburn Rovers, but Jayson Leutwiler is expected to replace Jason Steele between the sticks.

Recent form:

Preston: WDWLWL
Middlesbrough: WWLWLW

Possible lineups:

Preston: Stuckmann; Wright, Robertson, Laird, Byrom; Welsh, Sodje, Monakana, King; Beavon, Hayhurst

Middlesbrough: Leutwiler; Zemmama, Hoyte, Bikey, Friend; Carayol, Ledesma, Arca, Williams, McEachran; Emnes

Sports Mole says: 1-2

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