Boro include latest signing

Promotion hopefuls Middlesbrough bid to end a poor run of three successive league defeats when travelling to struggling Ipswich Town this weekend.

New signing Kieron Dyer goes straight into the squad to face his hometown club after agreeing a four-month deal at the Riverside. The former England winger was recently released from Queens Park Rangers following a succession of injuries.

Meanwhile, fellow forward Muzzy Carayol could make a long-awaited return from a knee problem that has kept him out since the end of September. It follows the 23-year-old former Bristol Rovers forward managing an hour for the Under-21 side against Chelsea last week.

Boro will also hand late fitness checks to Jonathan Woodgate (calf) and Scott McDonald (back) but Ishmael Miller (ankle), Justin Hoyte (hip) and Julio Arca (toe) remain out.

"I know results-wise we haven't been brilliant away from home, but there have been some decent performances and we've got points - not enough this year so far, but we've got the rest of the season to try to put that right and hopefully that'll start at Ipswich," manager Tony Mowbray told Boro's official website. "If we've got enough players fit to find that right balance this weekend, I'm sure we'll go to Ipswich and give them a good game."

Ipswich are likely to include their latest signing Richard Stearman in defence after Bradley Orr returned to Blackburn Rovers, while fellow newcomer Anthony Wordsworth will probably be on the bench.

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