EMILIO NSUE and Adam Forshaw are surprise inclusions in Middlesbrough's starting line-up to face Birmingham City tonight.

With Bournemouth and Derby both having dropped points in the last five days, Boro kick off at St Andrew's knowing a win would leave them three points clear at the top of the table.

Nsue will be making first appearance since returning from the Africa Cup of Nations, where he helped the host nation, Equatorial Guinea, make the semi-finals. Having made a number of previous Boro appearances at full-back, he will replace Albert Adomah on the right of midfield.

Forshaw comes into the heart of midfield for Adam Clayton, who drops down to the bench, and will play alongside skipper Grant Leadbitter.

In total, there are four changes to the side that lost at Arsenal in the FA Cup on Sunday with Dimi Konstantopoulos returning to replace Tomas Mejias in goal and Belgium international Jelle Vossen preferred to Kike in attack.

BIRMINGHAM (4-5-1): Randolph; Caddis, Spector, Robinson, Grounds; Davis, Gleeson, Cotterill, Shinnie, Gray; Donaldson.

Subs: Doyle (gk), Thomas, Novak, Kiernan, Reilly, Zigic, Dyer.

MIDDLESBROUGH (4-2-3-1): Konstantopoulos; Fredericks, Gibson, Omeruo, Friend; Leadbitter, Forshaw; Nsue, Tomlin, Bamford; Vossen.

Subs: Mejias (gk), Clayton, Adomah, Husband, Whitehead, Kike, Reach.