AITOR KARANKA has named a much-changed Middlesbrough team for this evening's Capital One Cup second-round tie with Preston.

In total, the Boro boss has made six changes to the side that lost to Sheffield Wednesday in the league at the weekend, with Tomas Mejias dropping to the bench after his howler against the Owls.

Dimi Konstantopoulos takes over in goal, although it should be noted that the Greek keeper also came into the side for the first-round win over Oldham.

Seb Hines will partner Daniel Ayala at centre-half, with James Husband taking over from George Friend at left-back, just as he did at Oldham.

Adam Clayton and Dean Whitehead are expected to be Boro's deep-lying midfielders, with Albert Adomah and Emilio Nsue lining up on the flanks.

Lee Tomlin will play in the attacking-midfield hole, with teenage striker Bradley Fewster starting up front for the second League Cup game in succession.

Kike forms part of a strong bench which also features Friend, Kenneth Omeruo, Grant Leadbitter and Emmanuel Ledesma.

Middlesbrough (4-2-3-1): Konstantopoulos; Damia, Ayala, Hines, Husband; Whitehead, Clayton; Adomah, Tomlin, Nsue; Fewster.

Subs: Mejias (gk), Friend, Omeruo, Reach, Leadbitter, Ledesma, Kike.

Preston (4-3-3): Jones; Wiseman, King, Clarke, B Davies; Browne, Kilkenny, Welsh; Hayhurst, Hugill, Laird.

Subs: Stuckmann (gk), Garner, Woods, Little, Brownhill, Gallagher, K Davies.