JONATHAN WOODGATE has recovered from a thigh problem to take his place at the heart of the Middlesbrough defence for this afternoon's visit of Burnley.

Boro boss Aitor Karanka has made three changes to the team as he looks for his players to build on Saturday's 2-0 win at Millwall against the Championship's top side.

Woodgate replaces Ben Gibson in the middle alongside Daniel Ayala, while striker Lukas Jutkiewicz is preferred to Curtis Main up front.

The only other change sees Emmanuel Ledesma, who scored at Millwall, start instead of the injured Mustapha Carayol.

MIDDLESBROUGH (4-2-3-1): Given; Varga, Woodgate, Ayala, Friend; Smallwood, Whitehead; Adomah, Emnes, Ledesma; Jutkiewicz. Subs: Konstantopoulos (gk), Williams, Butterfield, Leadbitter, L Williams, Gibson, Main.

BURNLEY (4-4-2): Heaton; Lafferty, Duff, Shackell, Trippier; Arfield, Jones, Marney, Kightly; Ings, Vokes. Subs: Liversedge (gk), Stanislas, Edgar, Stock, Treacy, Long, Hewitt.